Jim Furyk, the only American on the Ryder Cup team without a win this year, put himself in position Friday to join them.

Furyk made seven birdies through 10 holes at East Lake — including seven 3s to start the round — until he missed a few greens on the back nine that slowed his momentum. He wound up with a 6-under 64, giving him a one-shot lead over Justin Rose going into the weekend at the Tour Championship.

As for anyone questioning whether Furyk should have been a pick for the Ryder Cup?

He was more bothered by missing a 5-foot par putt on the 18th hole than what anyone thinks about his game or being in the Ryder Cup for the eighth straight time. With 16 wins, including a U.S. Open, and having qualified for every U.S. team since 1997, Furyk stopped believing he had to prove himself a long time ago.

“Look at the way I play golf — the way I swing the golf club and grip the putter,” he said. “Look at the way I go about my business. I don’t hit the ball very far. I’m short. If I really cared what the critics thought the last 19 years, I really wouldn’t be here. ... My teammates know that I’m going to give 110 percent. They know I have a lot of heart. I have a lot of grit, and that’s what I’m going to do.

“But I’ve never felt like I have to justify myself.”

Lexi Thompson remains on top

Defending champion Lexi Thompson shot a 3-under 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead into weekend play in the Navistar LPGA Classic.

The 17-year-old Thompson had a 12-under 132 total on the links-style Senator course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Capitol Hill complex. She matched the tournament record Thursday with a career-best 63.

“I played pretty consistent today,” Thompson said. “I hit a few squirrely iron shots that I wasn’t happy with, but overall I played consistent. My putting has gotten a lot better.

“It’s all about confidence really and just getting up to it and saying to yourself, you’re going to make the putt. That’s all I’m doing really, just getting a line and commit to it.”

Last year, Thompson became the youngest champion in LPGA Tour history at age 16, winning by five strokes. Fifteen-year-old amateur Lydia Ko broke the record last month in the Canadian Women’s Open.

Mindy Kim and Mi Jung Hur were a stroke back. They played in the same group and each shot 65.

Kim and Hur also missed late chances to tie Thompson.