ATLANTA — Masters champion Scottie SchefflerIf he had been paying more attention to the scoreboards, he might have experienced a rollercoaster of an opening round at the Tour Championship.
Scheffler was the No. 1 seed with a two-shot lead. FedEx Cup, Scheffler was the No. 1 seed. He led by as high as 6 shots in the front nine. His lead dropped to 2 after that. He was 5 strokes ahead when he had three straight birdies to complete a 5-under 65. Xander Schauffele.
He stated, I didnt know any I was just trying go out and shoot some good numbers.
Rory McIlroyThe day at East Lake was much more wild. He knew it.
McIlroy, a FedEx Cup champion twice, started 6 shots behind. He teed off during a downpour, hooking his tee shot above the fence and out-of-bounds. He reloaded his tee shot and found a bunker. He missed a 6-foot par putt and took triple-bogey.
He then went rough-to-rough to make the next hole bogey. McIlroy managed to score a remarkable 67 despite only having one par on the front nine.
McIlroy stated that it was not the best way to begin. The golf course is very accessible, so I knew there were many holes that you could birdie. I knew my game was great. It was one of those things. It wasnt the best way to start, but I was proud of how I rebounded from it.
Open champion was just as impressive. Cameron SmithDue to a hip injury, she is playing for only the second time since the FedEx Cup playoffs. Although East Lake was not a true lake, the overnight rain and downpour made it a pleasant walk.
He still managed to score a 67 and joined McIlroy eight shots back. They were a strange attraction as McIlroy was the most vocal advocate for the PGA Tour during its battle with Saudi-funded LIV, and reports suggest Smith will be the next to leave.
Its golf inside the ropes.
McIlroy stated, Business as usual. Cam, I get on really well – always have. I insist on saying that no matter what decisions are made, it doesn’t make them bad people. Does it make them disagree with me? It does. However, I disagree with many people I love and like.
So began the final leg of the chase to the FedEx Cup and $18 million prize. Scheffler had a great year, with his Masters win and three wins against strong players. He would give anything to be able to complete it, and he did.
His 3-iron shot from 230 yards uphill to 15 feet was enough to score an eagle on hole 6. He missed only one shot when he went from bunker over the green to the par-3 ninth green and had to make a simple 10-foot putt in order to escape with bogey.
The big finish was complete when he went from the left over the water to the 30 foot fairway for a two-putt bogie to reach 15 Under Par (which accounts for his 10 under start).
U.S. Open champion Matt FitzpatrickHe finished with an 18-under 64 and was 6 behind — he had the best round of the soggy days and only one shot ahead of Scheffler — Joaquin Niemann(64) The defending champion Patrick CantlayAnother shot was missed at (70).
Schauffele is still dangerous, and his record at East Lake is impressive for someone who has never been to Atlanta in possession of any trophy. This was his 21st round of the Tour Championship and his 19th round below par. The other two rounds were even-par 70s.
He was able to score a low 72-hole score in 2020, but he was too far behind to catch. Dustin Johnson.
Schauffele stated that it was a strange event . We do this once per year, and it is one of the larger events for us to do. Those are the things that make it difficult to stay present and not get ahead. Put your head down and enjoy your best round of golf.
Scheffler mentioned Weirder from The Open. Scheffler was in the mix on Sunday and shot 74. He hadnt disclosed it to anyone and didnt feel comfortable sharing the details other than to say that he was in pain.
I had whats known a pilonidal infections. He explained that it was an infection at your top of your butt crack. Its possible to look it up. It was very difficult for me to bend down. It was difficult for me on Sunday to swing. Walking was really difficult.
Just one of these things happened.
All this is part of an already remarkable year that is only 54 holes away from being even more memorable.