Koepka muscles way to the top at Trust

PARAMUS, N.J. Brooks Koepka showed some muscle and unleashed a monstrous finish Friday to share the lead in The Northern Trust.

Koepka spent most of the second round trading birdies and bogeys and going nowhere. One swing changed everything on the 631-yard 13th hole at Ridgewood Country Club. From just under 310 yards, he swung three-wood as hard as he could and saw the tight draw that had been missing all day. It stopped 20 feet from the hole, Koepka made it for eagle and then closed with three straight birdies for a 6-under 65.

He tied Jamie Lovemark, who shot a 66. Both are at 10 under.

“I wasn’t happy the first 11 holes the way I hit it,” Koepka said.

“When I hit that three-wood, it all clicked. I felt like I was finally able to release the golf club. Just tried to hit as hard as I could, big draw. Aimed at the tree on the right and tried to draw it back to the flag. When I did that, everything started to click.”

The U.S. Open and PGA champion took it from there.

Lovemark, winless in 135 starts as a pro, made five birdies over a six-hole stretch around the turn and was the first to reach 10 under.

Before long, a list of contenders lined up behind them in an entertaining start to the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Adam Scott, building on his confidence from playing in the final group at the PGA Championship, had a 64 for the low round of the tournament and was one shot behind.

Another shot back was Dustin Johnson, the world No. 1, who had another 67 that for the second straight day featured a triple bogey on his card.

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., who carded a 65, was four shots off the lead at 6 under. Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor (71) missed the cut at 1 over.