ST. LOUIS — J.J. Spaun’s front-nine 30 helped break up a five-way tie atop the leaderboard at Bellerive Country Club.
As the morning turned to afternoon at the sun-soaked BMW Championship, the 2025 U.S. Open winner made the turn at 11 under on the tournament without a blemish on the card through half of his second round on Friday.
Like first-round co-leader Gary Woodland, Spaun was mistake-free through 17 holes on Thursday only to bogey the final par-4 18th.
Something about the front nine suits Spaun. He recorded three consecutive birdies before making the turn in his first round. On Friday, he did one better — circling four straight holes, Nos. 3 through 6.
He opened his back nine with a bogey at the par-4 10th and ran into a trouble again at the par-4 14th. He sits at 10 under with four holes to play.
Michael Thorbjornsen and Patrick Cantlay are the clubhouse leaders at 8 under. Both are battling to make it to the Tour Championship in East Lake. Thorbjornsen ranked 41st in FedExCup scoring, while Cantlay sat 43rd entering the week. Each carded a 4-under 66 on Friday at Bellerive.
Thorbjornsen and Cantlay are both currently projected to finish on the inside of the top 30, bumping out “bubble” players Bud Cauley and Rickie Fowler.
“I would say almost regardless of where I’m at — top of the FedExCup or on the bubble, I don’t really think about it,” said Cantlay, who’s six birdies on the back nine led to the day’s only other 30. “I definitely know the best way to move up that board is to play well this week and so I just put all my attention there.”
Rory McIlroy and Chris Gotterup also grabbed a share of that lead Thursday and are still on the course. Woodland birdied his first hole and sits at 7 under through five holes. Wyndham Clark — the final of the five co-leaders — is set to tee off 2:33 p.m. ET.
The BMW Championship continues Friday in St. Louis where the top 50 players on Tour are vying for a spot at East Lake next week.