Stenson Extends Lead in Tour Championship


After opening with a 6-under 64, Henrik Stenson fired a 66 Friday to take a four-shot lead heading into the weekend of the Tour Championship. The PGA Tour's 2013 finale is taking place at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

The 37-year-old Swede, who carded five birdies in six holes - and seven overall Thursday, tacked on five more Friday - along with only his second bogey of the tournament - en route to a 36-hole total of 10-under 130, four strokes ahead of Adam Scott, who posted a 69.

"I hit some nice iron shots and got close to some tough pins," Stenson told a TV reporter. "I was also quick out of the blocks again," he added in reference to putting up nine birdies over two days on East Lake's front side.

Stenson, who won the Deutsche Bank Championship three weeks ago, is second to five-time winner Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup standings. In addition to the $1.44 million up for grabs for the winner of the Tour Championship, the overall FedEx Cup points' leader after Sunday's final round will take home $10 million.

Jordan Spieth carded a 67 to reach 135, while another stroke back in fourth are Justin Rose (68), Dustin Johnson (68) and Billy Horschel (70).

Keegan Bradley and Nick Watney matched Friday's low round of 65 to take a share of seventh at 137 with Gary Woodland (67), BMW champion Zach Johnson (68) and Steve Stricker (71).

Tied for 12th at 138 are Phil Mickelson (67), Jim Furyk (68) and Roberto Castro (71). Mickelson told PGATour.com that his swing is finally coming around to where it was when he won the British Open in July.

"I let a number of shots go on the first 27 holes," the five-time major champion said. "Then it clicked right back in. Just a slight set-up adjustment, and I started to feel really good with it. Since the British Open, this is the best I've felt with my golf swing, the best I've felt with a putter."

Nine back of Stenson are D.A. Points (67), Hunter Mahan (69), Bill Haas (69), Graham DeLaet (71), Webb Simpson (71) and Sergio Garcia (71).

Luke Donald carded his second straight 70 and is in solo 21st at even-par 140, and another shot back is Kevin Streelman (72). Sharing 23rd at 142 in the 30-player field are Brendon de Jonge (72) and Jason Day (74), while Matt Kuchar (74) is in 25th at 143.

After opening with a 73, Woods had a 71 and is in 26th with Jason Dufner (70) and 2012 Tour and FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker (75). Rounding out the leaderboard are Boo Weekley (75) and Charl Schwartzel (79), in 29th and 30th, respectively.

In an effort to play catch-up on the field, Woods fired five birdies in the first 13 holes. But he struggled down the stretch, posting a double-bogey on the par-4 14th, a bogey on the 16th, and a triple on the par-4 17th.

"I put everything I had into that start and didn't have much at the end," Woods told PGATour.com. "Just ran out of gas."

On the fateful 17th, Woods pulled his tee shot into a water hazard and stumbled to the triple. "My legs were just tired," he added. "I didn't rotate through the ball (on 17), and I turned it over. Same thing I did over on what was it, 14? Same shot. It's been just a long, long grind. We play a lot of golf from the British Open on."

But, in typical fashion, Woods, who entered the Tour Championship a 123-point lead over Stenson, doesn't believe the title has been decided. "I'm still in contention," he said. "There's 36 holes (left). This is not a sprint. It's a marathon. You've got to keep plugging around."

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