Neglect the format and simply take a look at these names on the leaderboard

ATLANTA — The detractors are loads, and for seemingly good motive. The brand new and — allegedly — improved Tour Championship that basically is not a match however will determine the FedEx Cup champion has a number of points that perhaps — simply perhaps — could possibly be excused if the gamers atop the leaderboard proceed to do their half.

Contrived? Definitely. Complicated? Effectively, probably not, however the idea has clearly befuddled many. Tacky? Given the astronomical sum of money at stake, positive.

However in the long run, greater than something, the PGA Tour was seeking to carry the most effective gamers on this planet collectively for a sequence of season-ending tournaments whereas hoping there could be some good and compelling golf alongside the best way.

To date, by two rounds at East Lake, the wacky format appears much less of a problem, with the gamers atop the leaderboard the story, as an alternative.

Brooks Koepka is the chief with 36 holes to play within the occasion that pays $15 million to the victor. Profitable for the fourth time this season would put a defining cap on a participant of the yr effort — and in addition would go a great distance towards overshadowing any points with how the Tour Championship was constructed.

Koepka received to 13 below (he started Thursday at 7 below) with a two-putt birdie on the 18th inexperienced. Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy are a stroke again. And Xander Schauffele, who eagled the ultimate gap, is 2 again.

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Who would not want for any match — effectively, it is probably not a match — to have names corresponding to Koepka, Thomas and McIlroy within the prime positions, with a handful of different gamers a scorching spherical away from becoming a member of them?

Massive names are inclined to handle quite a few points that always are speaking factors at golf tournaments, corresponding to course setup, climate, timing or — on this case — format. And having Koepka, the No. 1 participant on this planet, battling two former FedEx Cup champions in McIlroy (2016) and Thomas (2017) probably over the ultimate 36 holes is wealthy with prospects. Throw in Schauffele, who received the Tour Championship two years in the past whereas Thomas was successful the FedEx, and it is a fairly good foursome on the prime.

A lot pre-event discuss centered across the new association that gave Thomas a two-shot lead earlier than he ever put his tee within the floor. Because the FedEx Cup chief, that was his reward, with gamers falling farther behind the decrease they stood on the FedEx listing.

“If he got here out with 5 straight birdies, it will be like, ‘OK, we’re executed,”’ Paul Casey, who’s in fifth place, 4 again, mentioned of Thomas.

However Thomas did not do this through the “opening” spherical on Thursday, taking pictures even-par 70, which meant he did not budge from his spot at 10 below. That allowed Koepka, who was three again to begin, and McIlroy, who was 5 behind, to remain within the race.

And it meant that gamers corresponding to Schauffele and Casey may also have a say because the weekend progresses — or anybody else who can put a low spherical collectively.

Whereas the beginning might need been staggered, the look now’s how any match would seem with 36 holes to play. There are 9 gamers inside seven strokes of the lead, so the concept that a big deficit couldn’t be overcome through the course of 4 rounds was off base.

“You sort of take a look at it extra like a five-round match,” mentioned Matt Kuchar, who’s seven strokes again in a tie for seventh. “The fellows got here in wherever they have been, that was spherical one among 5. Even guys 10 again. I used to be able six pictures again, and you set me six pictures again going into Sunday’s remaining spherical, I really feel like I’ve received an opportunity. You place me six again with 72 holes to go, I’ve undoubtedly received an opportunity.”

In fact, there’s the matter of who’s taking pictures the bottom rating, a facet that may proceed to be debated.

By straight scores, McIlroy, Schauffele and Casey are all 7 below — and but they path.

“As is correct,” Casey mentioned. “That handicapping system, I believe it is sensible proper now.”

Thomas shot 68 on Friday to complete at 12 below — he’s 2 below for 36 holes — and is reaping the advantages of getting began the Tour Championship with a staggered lead.

“[Friday] felt regular; [Thursday] was bizarre,” Thomas mentioned. “It is simply so odd trying over and seeing 10 below [starting the round]. I do not care who you might be, I’ve a tough time believing that anyone goes to play completely different. I might assume all people goes to play in a different way after they begin the match with the lead versus everybody being tied.

“I assumed it was going to be straightforward for me to simply play a match. It wasn’t. A minimum of for me it wasn’t. I assumed it was troublesome to remain aggressive, however then once more, I wasn’t driving it very effectively, so I could not be aggressive. [Friday] undoubtedly felt extra regular.”

Seeing Koepka’s title atop a leaderboard, after all, is the brand new regular — no less than on the large occasions. After a considerably middling two playoff tournaments at Liberty Nationwide and Medinah, which noticed him slip to 3rd within the FedEx Cup standings, Koepka is correct there once more after taking pictures 6 below for 2 rounds.

A swing that had gone lacking for a time is seemingly again in sync, and Koepka is speaking a great recreation too.

“All people makes an enormous deal about [the format], however more often than not once we tee off on Thursday, we’re already six, seven behind as a result of the morning wave is completed,” he reasoned. “It isn’t an enormous deal. You simply go on the market and attempt to shut that hole, and I’ve executed a great job with that.”

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan made it clear earlier this week that he didn’t imagine the FedEx Cup remaining occasion to be a “match.” It’s a continuation of a “season-long” factors race that may culminate with a participant getting an enormous financial prize and a pleasant Cup too.

That did not cease the chatter or complaints in regards to the format, however having three gamers on the prime who’ve mixed for 9 main titles is just not a nasty solution to seize a unique kind of consideration this weekend.