Assured Brooks Koepka takes command of the FedEx Cup cash race

TV: Sky Sports Golf, Saturday 6pm

Brooks Koepka has moved from third to first in the Tour Championship after two rounds, quickly overcoming his three-shot starting deficit to take a one-shot advantage into the weekend at East Lake, Georgia.

Koepka, who started the event at seven under par in the first Tour Championship with a handicap system in place, has carded back-to-back rounds of 67 to take charge. The Floridian, 5-1 at the outset, has become 13-8 favourite.

Koepka, doubtless miffed to enter the Tour Championship seeded third in the FedEx Cup standings despite Major form figures of 2-1-2-4 and a 2019 WGC title, has handled the injustice well. A fast start seemed essential to get him the right frame of mind for FedEx glory – and he has got it.

Thunderstorms briefly held up play during round two, though, to slow Koepka, who covered his back-nine in level par, and two of his principal rivals for the title finished with a flourish to put themselves right on the leader's tail.

Rory McIlroy enjoyed a sand-save at the 16th followed by back-to-back birdies at 17 and 18 to tie for second place alongside Justin Thomas, who has let his pre-tournament two-shot lead disappear with rounds of 70 and 68.

And Xander Schauffele closed his round in even more spectacular fashion than McIlroy – the Californian making birdie at the 17th before an eagle at the 18th. Schauffele moved to within two shots of Koepka, so there are four top-class operators filling the first four places on the leaderboard and FedEx look like they are going to get the thrilling denouement to the $15m cash race that they prayed the revised scoring system would deliver.

The leaders at the halfway stage without the handicaps would be McIlroy, Schauffele and Paul Casey, who have both gone seven under par for two rounds. McIlroy, who started 8-1 favourite in the 72-hole without the handicap market, has strengthened his position as market leader in that heat.

It is difficult to be confident in an outright wager at this stage. Koepka had a crisis in confidence in his swing prior to the event, but appears to have solved the issue and is a strong frontrunner. McIlroy and Schauffele are in fine fettle, though, and huge threats, while Thomas may relax and perform better having become the hunter rather than the hunted, with the pre-tournament handicaps becoming almost forgotten.

Casey is playing well enough to have a squeak, too, from four shots behind, while Patrick Cantlay, who has been poor on and around the greens (last in the field for strokes-gained around the green and 27th of 30 for putting) tops the strokes-gained on approach stats and could still make an impression from six shots adrift if he can rediscover a short-game.

The 7-1 Schauffele is arguably the best value option for punters desperate to have an outright wager at this stage, but it may be sensible to watch another 18 holes for a clearer indication of who is likely to triumph.

Third-round twoball punters are pointed towards Marc Leishman in the opening contest, which starts at 6pm UK and Ireland time. Leishman, who won the 2017 BMW Championship in the FedEx Cup playoffs, has been five shots superior to playing partner Lucas Glover over the opening 36 holes. Glover, eight over par and looking set for Tour Championship wooden-spoon dishonour, has been abysmal.

Schauffele is recommended to beat McIlroy on value grounds (8.10pm). Both players love East Lake and this should be a tight contest. Koepka and Thomas are scheduled on the tee at 8.20pm.

Twoballs recommendations
M Leishman
2pts 19-20 general

X Schauffele
1pt 8-5 bet365

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