Schefller builds big lead over schauffele in FedEx cup final

Scottie Scheffler has made an impressive start in his quest for his first FedExCup title, positioning himself as the frontrunner at the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship. Scheffler, currently the world No. 1, ended the first round with a commanding seven-shot lead over his nearest competitors, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa, after a stellar performance at East Lake.

 

Entering the tournament with a two-shot advantage over Schauffele, Scheffler quickly took control of the competition, despite a rocky start. After an initial bogey at the par-four first hole, which allowed Schauffele to briefly draw level, Scheffler responded with resilience. He birdied the third hole to reclaim the lead and went on to showcase his remarkable form throughout the round.

 

Scheffler’s round of 65, the lowest of the day, was marked by seven birdies, including a remarkable surge with five birdies over his final seven holes. This performance propelled him to a 16-under total, putting him in a dominant position as the leading contender for the $25 million prize awarded to the FedExCup champion.

 

Schauffele’s round of 70 left him tied for second place with Morikawa, who also impressed with his performance. Morikawa made a dramatic comeback on his back nine with six consecutive birdies, ending the round at 9 under par. Hideki Matsuyama and Keegan Bradley, who won the first two playoff events, are tied for fourth place at eight under par.

 

Scheffler’s round was not without its challenges. The early bogey at the first hole seemed to momentarily undermine his pre-tournament advantage, but he quickly regained his composure. His birdie at the third hole restored his lead, and despite missing a chance to extend his advantage at the fifth hole, he maintained his edge by sinking a long putt at the seventh.

 

The lead widened further as Scheffler continued to capitalize on his opportunities. At the 14th hole, a birdie followed a missed eagle attempt, and he added another birdie at the 17th, further solidifying his position. A brilliant up-and-down from a greenside bunker at the 18th allowed him to take advantage of the par-five hole, expanding his lead to its largest margin since the stroke-based system was introduced at the Tour Championship in 2019.

 

Scheffler expressed satisfaction with his performance, telling Sky Sports, “I’m pleased with the day. I tried not to think about any sort of lead or anything like that; my job was to go out there and execute, and I felt like I did a really good job of that. I felt like I was doing some good stuff to start the day. I had the bogey on one but after that I felt like I played some really good golf.”

 

In contrast, Schauffele’s round included a mix of three birdies and two bogeys, reflecting a frustrating start. Morikawa’s 66 was the second-lowest score of the day until Scheffler’s late surge. Matsuyama and Bradley are joined eight shots behind the leader by Adam Scott, Sam Burns, and Wyndham Clark, while Sahith Theegala surged to ninth place with five birdies in his final six holes.

 

Rory McIlroy’s pursuit of a record fourth FedExCup title got off to a challenging start. Despite making three birdies in the last five holes to finish with a two-under-par 69, McIlroy finds himself ten strokes behind Scheffler. Defending champion Viktor Hovland also faced a tough opening round, finishing with a four-under-par 69 and tying for 20th place despite a strong performance that included seven birdies.

 

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Scheffler as he aims to convert his commanding lead into a maiden FedExCup victory.