Tommy Fleetwood of England has never won on the PGA Tour and it would be extra special for him to break through in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The 27-year-old Fleetwood (pictured), who has won four times on the European Tour, carded a bogey-free, 7-under-par 63 and is tied for the lead with fellow Englishman Ian Poulter and third-ranked Justin Thomas after two rounds on the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
“It’s like my dad’s favorite event pretty much,” said Fleetwood, who finished second at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills earlier this summer. “He came last year because he always wanted to have a picture in front of the Firestone golf ball, so I’ve always watched this one.
“Next step is a PGA Tour win, so a WGC would be a lovely way to do that. They’re the biggest events in the world—majors, WGCs, Players, and of course the BMW at Wentworth. Those are the biggest tournaments you’re going to play and they’re the best fields in the world, so if you can win one, I mean, it’s great to be in contention again and winning them shows you’re a proper player.”
Fleetwood equaled his career-best round on the PGA Tour and finished 36 holes at 11-under-par 129.
Poulter, who held the first-round lead at 62, came back with a 67, while Thomas birdied five of his last eight holes to shoot 67.
Tenth-ranked Jason Day of Australia birdied three of the last four holes to cap a 66 and is two strokes back in a tie for fourth with Kyle Stanley, who had a 68.
Seventh-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland birdied the last two holes to shoot 68 and is three shots behind in a tie for sixth with Si Woo Kim of South Korea, who wound up at 68, while Hao Tong Li of China totaled 67 with an eagle on No. 2 and is one more back in a tie for eighth with Luke List, who finished at 68.
Tiger Woods, who has won the Bridgestone a record eight times, posted a 68 and is five back in a tie for 10th with fifth-ranked Jon Rahm (70) of Spain, Louis Oosthuizen (66) of South Africa, Tony Finau (66), Webb Simpson (65) and Marc Leishman (69) of Australia.
Phil Mickelson, who won the 1996 World Series of Golf at Firestone, is tied for 16th after a 69, fourth-ranked Brooks Koepka shot 70 and is tied for 22nd and ninth-ranked Rickie Fowler of Murrieta is tied for 27th following a 74.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan shot 72 and is tied for 37th, top-ranked Dustin Johnson is tied for 46th following a 71, sixth-ranked Francesco Molinari of Italy is tied for 53rd after a 72, and eighth-ranked Jordan Spieth had a 72 and is tied for 60th.
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