Scott leads Tour Championship

ATLANTA, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Adam Scott birdied seven of the last 12 holes Friday to take the lead at the Tour Championship and move in front in the race for the FedEx Cup.

Scott, a winner at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last month and a Top-10 finisher at the PGA Championship, shot a 5-under-par 65 at the East Lake Golf Club to complete 36 holes at 8-under 132.

He has become one of the world's top players since changing to a long putter and then hiring Steve Williams, the former caddy for Tiger Woods.

Scott entered the Tour Championships in 19th place in the year-long points race that will determine the winner of the FedEx Cup and its top prize of $10 million. If the current standings hold through Sunday, Scott would vault all the way to first place.

K.J. Choi also shot a 65 Friday and was alone in second at 133. Jason Day and Luke Donald, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, were tied for third at 134.

First-round leader Keegan Bradley was among those tied for fifth at 135. Webb Simpson, who came into the tournament leading the FedEx points list, was tied for 19th at 139.

Scott played the first six holes in 2-over, but began a sizzling stretch of golf with a birdie at the par-4 seventh. That was the first of four straight birdies for Scott, who also birdied the final two holes.

"I was pretty annoyed at myself [because of his start], but I'm playing too good to let myself slip away at the moment," Scott said.