(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Scheffler and McIlroy Benefit From Fortuitous Finish at TOUR Championship
ATLANTA – The opening round of the TOUR Championship brought drama, skill, and even a little bit of luck for two of golf’s biggest names, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
McIlroy closed his round with a remarkable break on the par-5 18th hole. His bunker shot sailed long but caromed off a hospitality tent and rolled back onto the green. From there, he sank a 17-foot putt for birdie, turning what looked like a costly error into a key momentum boost.
That fortunate bounce also saved valuable time, allowing both McIlroy and Scheffler to finish their rounds before darkness fell. With weather expected to impact play, Friday’s second round will begin at 8 a.m. to avoid delays.
Scheffler, meanwhile, delivered a bogey-free 63, placing him alone in second at two shots behind leader Russell Henley. McIlroy carded a 66 and sits in eighth place, five strokes back.
Bounce-Back Specialists
McIlroy’s birdie on 18 came after a bogey at 17, showcasing his ability to quickly recover. He did the same earlier, following a bogey on 14 with a birdie at the par-3 15th.
Scheffler has made bounce-backs his trademark. He currently leads the TOUR in the bounce-back stat (36.4%), which measures birdies or better made immediately after a bogey. Remarkably, he didn’t need that skill Thursday—his round was flawless from start to finish.
Putting Makes the Difference
The highlight of Scheffler’s round was his putting performance. Ranked 16th on TOUR in Strokes Gained: Putting this season, Scheffler led the entire field on Thursday. He holed three putts outside 25 feet, including a 26-footer to save par on the 16th and a 27-foot birdie on 17. He capped the day with a short birdie putt on East Lake’s par-5 finishing hole.
“Going right of 16 was a big mistake during practice rounds, so the goal was just to get the ball back on the green,” Scheffler said. “Making that long putt was a huge bonus.”
History on the Line
Scheffler is aiming to become the first player to win back-to-back FedExCup titles, while also chasing his sixth victory of the season. A win would nearly equal his record-setting 2024 campaign, when he claimed seven titles.
With Henley leading at the top, and McIlroy and Scheffler both in strong positions, the stage is set for a thrilling weekend at East Lake.
