World number one Scottie Scheffler made a strong start in his quest for a first FedExCup title by establishing a commanding seven-stroke lead after the opening round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Despite a bogey on the first hole, Scheffler surged ahead with seven birdies, including a key one on the par-five 18th, to card a six-under-par 66, putting him at 16 under overall due to the tournament's staggered start.
Scheffler, who began the tournament at 10 under as the leader in the FedExCup points standings, overshadowed his closest competitors. Xander Schauffele, the world number two, started at eight under but could only manage a one-under-par 70 in the first round, placing him in a tie for second at nine under. He is joined by Collin Morikawa, who made a notable climb with a five-under-par 66, moving up from a starting position of four under.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy is currently tied for 10th place at six under, improving his standing from a starting point of four under. McIlroy, who finished his opening round with four birdies and two bogeys, expressed satisfaction with his performance and hopes to close the gap on Scheffler. “I’m happy with how I hung in there and had a good finish,” McIlroy said, acknowledging Scheffler's impressive lead and his own efforts to stay competitive.
The 30-man field will return to the course on Friday, with scattered thunderstorms expected to impact play. The Tour Championship, which features no 36-hole cut, will see the winner take home the FedEx Cup along with a substantial $25 million prize at the end of the 72-hole event.
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