Ryan Gerard absolutely torched East Lake Golf Club on Friday, firing off his second straight 5-under 65 at the Tour Championship. That incredible run has him sharing the 36-hole lead at the FedEx Cup finale with Viktor Hovland, and believe me, everyone is taking notice. This isn’t just a good tournament for Gerard, who’s 27 and a North Carolina Tarheel. This is a guy who finally reeled in his “white whale,” making it into the elite field of 30 for the very first time in his Tour career. Now, he’s got his eyes locked on something even bigger: a captain’s pick from Brandt Snedeker to play for Team USA at the Presidents Cup.
He’s Playing for More Than Just a Trophy Right Now
Gerard isn’t shy about what’s at stake. “It’s hard not to think about it a little bit. I think very aware that a good week this week goes a long way to help my chances,” he told us. He knows he just needs to keep playing “good golf,” but you can feel the intensity when he talks about it. He’s not just hoping; he’s laying it all out there. In an earlier conversation, he was even more direct, saying, “I want to play in that tournament. I want to be part of the team. I want to play for my country. I want people to want me to be there.” That’s the kind of fire you love to see, especially when his abilities are starting to catch up with those sky-high expectations. It wasn’t always like this though, he admitted chasing a Tour card meant his expectations didn’t always match reality. He even said, “It took me a little while to figure out I didn’t have it figured out and then it took me even longer to try and figure it out from there.” He’s still learning, but man, he’s getting consistent.
The Secret Sauce: Short Irons, Putting, and a Ted Talk
So, what’s clicked for Gerard? It’s a couple of things. First, his distance control with his short irons has been dialed in this week, and those 65s are proof. But the real game-changer might be his putting. That used to be a weakness for him, dropping him to No. 154 in Strokes Gained: Putting in 2025. This season? He’s jumped all the way to No. 27! He started working with putting coach Joey Farrow last fall and switched to a lighter, 35-inch Scotty Cameron Phantom 3, a mid-mallet with a single-bend shaft that feels like a blade. Talk about making a change! He also got a personal “Ted Talk” from none other than Ted Scott, caddie for world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, back in February. Scott gave him some “good stuff” at Cypress Point, telling Gerard that “your best golf happens when expectations match where your game is.” And right now, Gerard’s game is absolutely matching those expectations.
The Tour Championship is still wide open, and Gerard has put himself right in the mix for one of the biggest opportunities of his career. He’s got his sights set on not just a win, but that Presidents Cup captain’s pick. You know he’s going to leave everything out there on the course Saturday, knowing exactly what’s at stake.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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