Scottie Scheffler is two shots back of the lead at the St Jude Championship, and the world number one has named one extremely challenging hole at TPC Southwind.
The two-time Masters champion made two birdies on the front nine and three on the back to card a 65. After avoiding any dropped shots, Scheffler is on course to beat a record set by Tiger Woods in 2000.
Elsewhere, Denny McCarthy and Hideki Matsuyama lead the way on 11 under. Sam Burns is at ten under, and Justin Rose is one shot back of Scheffler at eight under.
Billy Horschel, Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre are in a three-way tie for seventh at seven under.
Scottie Scheffler explains why the 14th at TPC Southwind is so challenging
Talking to the media during his post-round press conference, Scheffler was asked what the most challenging shot he faced on Friday was.
The American went on to highlight the 218-yard 14th, which has ranked as the hardest hole during the first two rounds.
“Today, I’d say one of the most difficult shots was the tee shot on 14, the par-three,” Scheffler explained. “The way the wind direction was down off the right. For a hole like that, it can be challenging because the green goes left to right. With water short, you know your miss is left.”
He added: “But with the pin tucked up against the bunker, it can be challenging because that bunker shot is so difficult. So there really wasn’t much of a bailout.”
Scottie Scheffler looks at home at the PGA Tour playoffs
Before this week’s St Jude Championship, Scheffler angered fans after suggesting the FedEx Cup playoffs weren’t an accurate representation of the season-long race.
Criticism aimed at the American suggested that if he was the elite player, he should turn up and perform at the Tour Championship and get over the line.
Rory McIlroy, for example, has landed three Tour Championship victories and performed when required at East Lake.
However, right now, Scheffler doesn’t look like he’s going to drop off ahead of the PGA Tour finale. The world number one is nearly always in contention and will more than likely land win number eight in Memphis this weekend.
For once, this feels like the year the lucrative Tour Championship and FedEx Cup will find their way into Scheffler’s arms.
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