Top 5 control their fate at East Lake

ATLANTA — Each of the top five players in the FedExCup standings can guarantee a FedExCup victory with a win at this week’s TOUR Championship. In addition, there are certain scenarios for winning the FedExCup should some other player outside the top five wins the tournament. Here’s a look at how each top-5 player fared during Friday’s second round at East Lake. 1. Jordan Spieth: He sits in the middle of the 30-man field, tied for 15th place after shooting 67-70 in the first two rounds. He’s four shots behind co-leaders Justin Thomas, Paul Casey and Webb Simpson. Spieth is in danger of being passed in the FedExCup standings after a second consecutive day of inconsistent ballstriking. He ranks 19th in greens hit this week after hitting only 10 on Friday. 2. Justin Thomas: He’s tied for first, halfway to a FedExCup-clinching victory that would provide the perfect ending to an impressive season that’s seen him win five times. “It’s nice to have everything in my own hands and know that if I just take care of what I need to do, then it’s over with,â€� Thomas said. He sits at 7 under par after shooting 66 on Friday, including an eagle at No. 18. Thomas leads the field in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee after hitting 20 of 28 fairways and averaging more than 300 yards off the tee on all tee shots. 3. Dustin Johnson: He’s tied with Spieth for 15th place, four shots off the lead. Johnson, the 54-hole leader here last year, ranks 22nd in the 30-man field in Strokes Gained: Putting. “The next two days are all about if I can hole some putts,â€� Johnson said. “I feel like I’m swinging really well, I’m hitting it great, so just have to roll some putts in,â€� he said. 4. Marc Leishman: The BMW Championship winner battled his way around East Lake for the second day running, putting up his second straight 71 to be T24. Now nine shots off the pace, it is going to take something super-human for Leishman to become the first Australian to win the FedExCup. He hit just four fairways in round two. “More fairways, more greens and some hot putting. I’ve got to just go for it on the weekend,â€� he said. 5. Jon Rahm: The 22-year-old is trying to become the first player to win the FedExCup in his first Playoffs appearance. He’ll start Saturday just one shot off the lead after shooting 67 on Friday. He made nine consecutive pars on the front nine before making three birdies on the back-nine. It was Friday’s only bogey-free round. “I mean I can’t help but be a little frustrated just because I hit so many greens both days and I made so many close calls that the frustration just piles up,â€� Rahm said. “It’s hard to let it go when it’s hole after hole after hole. But after thinking about it, 3 under par both days are obviously two scores I would have taken, for sure.â€�

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