WASHINGTON: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion, birdied the last three holes to grab a five-stroke lead after Thursday’s first round of the PGA’s season-ending Tour Championship.
The 26-year-old American began the day at 10-under par with a two-shot edge under a staggered start scoring system based on season points.
Scheffler stretched his advantage by firing a five-under par 65 at East Lake in Atlanta, sparked by birdie putts of just over 14 feet at the 16th, 11 feet at 17 and a tap-in at the par-5 18th after driving the green in two. “I felt like I played good all day and I was only two under so to get those last three birdies at the end was definitely some icing on the cake,” Scheffler said. “I played pretty solid.
That’s always a good way to finish off the round.” Scheffler, who hadn’t won a PGA title when the year began, won four in two months capped by his first major title at Augusta National and could cap an incredible season by taking the $18 million FedEx Cup playoff crown.