Cantlay's 65 puts a 1,461-day victory drought back in play

Patrick Cantlay's last victory came at the 2022 BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club, four years ago this week. His long-time coach Jamie Mulligan can give the figure without doing the arithmetic: 1,461 days. On Friday at Bellerive Country Club, Cantlay made eight birdies and shot 65 to put himself back in the argument.

How did Cantlay play his second round?

Badly, then very well. He followed each of his two front-nine birdies with a bogey, then made four birdies in the first five holes after the turn. A three-putt bogey at the 16th interrupted it, and he answered by birdieing the last two for a 5-under 65 and an 8-under 132.

Why the season has been quiet by his standards

Cantlay, 34, has been steady without being sharp: 10 top-25 finishes in 14 made cuts, but a best result of T-7 at the Valspar Championship. The majors told the same story.

What is at stake this weekend?

Two things. The 2019 FedEx Cup champion arrived at No. 43 and is in danger of missing the Tour Championship for the first time since 2020, and only the second time since 2017. He is also 17th in the U.S. Presidents Cup standings, with the top six locking in when the BMW finishes on Sunday, which leaves captain Brandt Snedeker's picks as the route in for a player with a 10-4-0 record across the last three winning teams.

get hot with the putter, anything can happen

Cantlay said he does not track his position on the board either way, on the grounds that playing well this week handles it.