Akshay Bhatia reached 9-under after 10 holes but surrendered four shots coming home, leaving him four strokes behind co-leaders Ryan Gerard and Viktor Hovland.

Akshay Bhatia’s early charge was halted by a difficult closing stretch as he slipped to tied 11th after the second round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

The 24-year-old added a 1-under 69 to his opening 65, reaching 6-under 134 and remaining four strokes behind halfway leaders Ryan Gerard and Viktor Hovland.

Making his third consecutive appearance at the PGA Tour’s season-ending event, Bhatia began the day strongly with four birdies across his opening 10 holes. The Hero-backed golfer climbed to 9-under and moved within range of the lead before losing momentum on the back nine.

A bogey at the 12th was followed by a costly double bogey at the par-three 15th, where the slopes surrounding the green punished his approach. Bhatia dropped another shot at the 17th but recovered with a closing birdie to keep himself in contention with 36 holes remaining.

Gerard and Hovland finished the day tied at the top on 10-under 130.

Gerard overcame an opening bogey to shoot 65, highlighted by a remarkable birdie putt from almost 80 feet. Hovland joined him with a bogey-free 66, including an important birdie at the demanding 15th.

Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup moved within one stroke of the lead after matching rounds of 67, while Scottie Scheffler sat two shots back at 8-under.

Scheffler recovered from two early bogeys by making five birdies in six holes around the turn, signing for a 67.

Cameron Young produced the lowest round of the day, rebounding from an opening 70 with an 8-under 62. He went out in 30 and finished with a 40-foot eagle putt at the 18th to move within two strokes of the lead.

Bhatia enters the weekend only four shots back but will need to rediscover the control that powered his opening-round 65.

Photo – PGAT