Jordan Spieth is hot on the heels of Tour Championship leader Henrik Stenson after a second round 66 in Atlanta.

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Stenson, whose previous appearance at East Lake in 2013 saw him lead from start to finish, followed his first round 63 with a three-under 68, leaving him with a three shot lead over Spieth.

After seven straight pars, Spieth made some headway with a stunning approach on the par-4 8th which left him within a few feet of the hole, and his putter did the rest. He followed that with a 22-foot putt on the par-five 9th. 

Spieth started the back nine in solid fashion with another run of pars before another birdie following a brilliant 86-yard wedge shot on 15 and then saved his best for last with 19-footer on 18 to finish four-under for the day, six under for the tournament.

Rory McIlroy’s challenge faded a little with a disappointing one-over 71 which saw bogeys on 3, 8, 13 and 18 as he slipped to three-under.

Open Championship winner Zach Johnson also failed to match his first round 66, shooting a level par 70 to lie four-under.