Scottie Scheffler delivered a masterclass performance in the first round of the Tour Championship at East Lake, extending his lead from two shots to a commanding seven strokes in the 30-man field. The 28-year-old World No. 1 has been the frontrunner throughout much of the FedEx Cup season, capturing six official titles and a seventh if you count his recent Olympic gold medal in Paris.
Starting the round at 10-under par due to the staggered scoring system, Scheffler fired an impressive 6-under 65, the best round of the day, to push his total to 16-under par. His brilliant play has created a substantial gap between him and his closest competitors, US Ryder Cup teammates Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa, who sit at 9-under and 6-under respectively.
Schauffele briefly pulled level with Scheffler on the par-4 1st after a birdie-bogey swing, but the World No. 2 struggled around the turn and couldn’t keep pace with the man who has dominated the PGA Tour season. Morikawa, meanwhile, made a strong surge up the leaderboard with six consecutive birdies starting at the 10th hole, finishing with a solid 66.
Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy, a record three-time FedEx Cup champion, carded a 69 to move to 6-under par. However, the Northern Irishman now finds himself 10 shots behind Scheffler, with significant ground to make up over the next three rounds.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, as the winner of the Tour Championship not only claims the FedEx Cup title but also pockets a record-breaking $25 million prize. With Scheffler in such dominant form, the rest of the field faces a daunting challenge to catch him as the tournament continues in Atlanta.
