Scottie Scheffler leader serein, McIlroy assure le spectacle

Leader at the start of the PGA Tour season finale, thanks to the readjusted points system of the FedEx Cup, Scottie Scheffler played the first eighteen holes of the Tour Championship calmly, to count five strokes ahead of Xander Schauffele. Rory McIlroy is sixth after making the lift, following a triple-bogey in the opening.

Scottie Scheffler never flinched on the first day of the Tour Championship, just disturbed by a bogey on 9, but concluded brilliantly with three birdies from 16 to 18. The world number one left with a score of -10 and two shots advance on Patrick Cantlay, thanks to the updated FedEx Cup ranking. After the first round and a card of 65 for a score of -15, Scheffler is five moves ahead of Xander Schauffele ! Since the new FedEx Cup points system in 21019, no one had ever been more than two strokes ahead after eighteen holes! The winner of the last Masters is therefore ideally set to win the $ 18 million bonus promised to the winner of the Tour Championshipwhich will automatically be the winner of the FedEx Cup.

Matthew Fitzpatrick climbs the podium

Author of a good day in 66, Xander Schauffele is only second at five lengths, just ahead of the Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick who completes the podium. Helped by the morning rain which made the greens particularly welcoming, the recent winner of the British Open signed the card of the day (64) just like the Chilean Joaquin Niemann, fourth alongside Patrick Cantlay who snatched a card in par with an eagle at 18.

Ending on a high note ????@Patrick_Cantlay is back to 8-under after an eagle at No. 18. pic.twitter.com/8UypQaTDGZ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 25, 2022

Rory McIlroy bounces back from nightmarish start

At the gates of the top 5, Rory McIlroy had an amazing day. We thought his week was already ruined from his first shot of the day with a face-off rolled to the left out of bounds and a triple-bogey at hole number 1, followed by a pitiful bogey at 2 with two chips. Rejected miserably in 28th and penultimate place in the standings (there are only 29 following the withdrawal of Will Zalatoris), the Northern Irishman found the resources to take out an improbable eagle on the par 5 of hole number 6… by entering an approach! With only one par on his chaotic first leg, the world number 4 continued to fight to finish with four birdies on his last five holes and finish in a sweat in 6th place, just three shots from second place!

Rory doing Rory things ???? @McIlroyRory with an eagle at No. 6. pic.twitter.com/NltP5HA74g

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 25, 2022

Top 10

(Photo Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP)