IRONS & WOODS COMING TO LONG GROVE THIS FALL. It’s golf simulator driven, but Irons & Woods will have slot machines and more fun activities. Golf season all year.  ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or on Linkedin and Facebook. With BMW artist Cassy Tully, in the merchandise tent.

THE BMW CHAMPIONSHIP is halfway home. And after 36 holes it’s Hidecki Matsuyama with a 1shot lead over Tony Finau, and Patrick Cantlay.

Matsuyama fired a course record for Medinah’s Course #3, in competition with a 9 under par 63.

Harry “Lighthorse” Cooper shot 63 on the orginal Medinah Course #3 design, during the 1930 Medinah Open.

But the course, and routing was changed over time. The current routing has been in place since 1986. Prior to the 1988 Senior Open and the 1990 U.S. Open. There were changes to the 15th hole prior to the 2012 Ryder Cup. A pond was added, and the green was rebuilt. Yardage grew to it’s current 7,613 yards. The course record prior to Round 2 was 65, recorded several times. Including by Justin Thomas and Jason Kokrak, during Round 1.

Both Thomas and Kokrak fell back in Round 2. Thomas is still lurking near the lead, 2 shots back of Matsuyama. Kokrak suffered a triple bogey 7, on the 15th hole that left him six shots off the lead.

(L) Tony Finau speaks with the media after his round. (R) Patrick Cantlay is feeling good about his game, headed to Round 3.

Finau shot 66, and Cantlay 67 to share second place. Both players are playing good golf, and say they are ready to keep moving forward this weekend. Finau says his style is pedal to the metal “all weekend” long, and that he is ready to win. Finau one shot down on 18, ripped the longest drive of the day on 18. 333 yards, but his wedge from 115 yards spun-backwards. So that left a 20-foot birdie putt that Finau could not convert.

Click here, to hear the second round interview with Tony Finau.

Cantlay says he loves the old-classic style golf courses, and is really enjoying a Medinah course that he says is in great shape.

Click here, to hear the postround interview with Patrick Cantlay.

Tiger Woods who is playing with a strained oblique muscle, doesn’t seem to have enough left in his tank to reach Atlanta next week. Because Woods needs to jump over 8 players in the FedExCup point standings. In order to make the top 30. Woods is ahead of only two players, he needs to beat. Eight players just behind Woods in the standings, are leading him this week after 36 holes. At this time, Woods is likely to fall back in the standings after Medinah.

Brooks Koepka, the #1 player in the point standings, is at 5 under par. Rory McIlroy had a late birdie binge and is 4 shots back at 8 under par.

Because the players will tee off in twosomes on Saturday. Shane Lowery will head out first as a solo at 7:25 Am.  The final tee time is at 1 PM, it includes Matsuyama and Cantlay.