Published Friday, 21 September 2012
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland in action. (© Getty)
The 23-year-old Ulsterman's second round score of 68 at East Lake on Friday was his 10th successive sub-70 and kept him on course for a $10m jackpot this weekend.
McIlroy bogeyed the 14th after driving into the trees, but hit back brilliantly with a 25-foot eagle putt on the next hole before parring the final three.
But it was Americans Jim Furyk and Bo Van Pelt who shared the lead, while Tiger Woods produced a mixed bag in his round.
The tournament is the last leg of the FedEx Cup play-offs and it will be a case of winner-takes-all, as McIlroy bids to lift his third consecutive trophy and with it a staggering payout.
It comes as the Holywood golfer put his lavish home in Northern Ireland on sale with an asking price of £2,000,000.
Explaining the house sale he told Sky Sports: "I'm only spending about two weeks a year back home, so from a financial point of view it didn't make sense to keep it.
"I'm travelling all over the world, I don't have a full-time base over here (in America) and don't think I will for a while.
"Hopefully when I go home Mum and Dad will have a room for me!"