ATLANTA – Adam Scott is playing well enough to win the Tour Championship. With a little help, he could win a lot more.

Scott figured he was too far back in the FedEx Cup at No. 19 to have a realistic chance at the $10 million bonus.

His main concern was heading home to Australia after this week with the crystal trophy from the Tour Championship.

His chances have changed, even if his focus hasn’t.

Scott finished birdie-birdie for the second straight day on the tough closing holes at East Lake, allowing him to recover from a rugged start for a 5-under 65 on Friday and a one-shot lead over K.J. Choi.

He hit a 9-iron from a divot on the 17th to 7 feet, then hit a 3-iron into about 10 feet on the par-3 18th to finish at 8-under 132 and head into the weekend of the FedEx Cup finale with increasing possibilities.

“I’ve got to win, and I imagine Webb (Simpson) must have to finish pretty low to give me a chance,” Scott said of the FedEx Cup. “That’s all I know. I just figured if I win this week, I’ll be happy no matter what. I’ll finish what I think has been a really good season.”

Choi also had a 65 and will be in the final group today with Scott.

Two shots behind were Luke Donald, the No. 1 player in the world and No. 4 in the FedEx Cup, who had a 68; and Jason Day, who was paired with Scott on a balmy afternoon and shot 67.

Quietly lurking, as usual, is Donald.

He made the turn at even par on the day, then kept bogeys off his card on the back nine to stay within range. Donald is so high up on the FedEx Cup that he doesn’t have to win to claim the $10 million prize.

“I was very happy with the score,” Donald said of his 68.

“I didn’t hit the ball quite as solidly today, and I didn’t quite have as much control as I did yesterday. But you’re not going to hit it perfectly for 72 holes. There’s going to be days when you’re going to have to really fight and have some good short game to get you out of some trouble. That was the case today.”

Fourteen players were separated by five shots going into the weekend, a group that includes two of the top five players in the FedEx Cup standings – Donald and Matt Kuchar.

SOLHEIM CUP: Europe overcame a spirited rally by the United States in the fourballs to lead 4 1/2 -3 1/2 after the opening day at Killeen Castle in Dunsany, Ireland.

With the sides even at 2-2 following the morning foursomes, rookie Caroline Hedwall and fellow Swede Sophie Gustafson put Europe 3-2 ahead with a 5 and 4 win over Vicky Hurst and Brittany Lincicome.

Europe was up in the other three matches at that stage but Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer came back from one down with two to play to beat Europe’s Laura Davies and Melissa Reid by one hole.

Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal were two up with three to play against Christina Kim and Ryann O’Toole. But the Americans salvaged a half point when Kim birdied the 16th and O’Toole birdied the 17th to level before the 18th was shared at par.

EUROPEAN: John Daly walked off the course during the second round of the Austrian Open in Atzenbrugg after a dispute with officials over a ball drop and two-shot penalty.

After completing the 15th hole, Daly was told by referee Andy McFee he had dropped his ball in the wrong place after it landed in an unplayable position under a TV tower. Instead of accepting the two-shot penalty, Daly decided to quit. He was 4 over before the penalty.

Robert Coles of England shot a 7-under 65 for the best round of the day to share the lead with Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, Thomas Norret of Denmark and Gaganjeet Bhullar of India.