Scottie Scheffler extended the two-stroke lead he took into the 2024 Tour Championship on Thursday, opening play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs finale with a 6-under 65 that shot him well in front of the field through 18 holes. Scheffler's 65 was the round of the day at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, and it marked his 50th round in the 60s this season with three left to increase that total.
Normally, such a score would be enough to suggest that Scheffler is in pole position to win a tournament. This week, though, given the advantage Scheffler held amid the Tour Championship's staggered start after the season-long FedEx Cup points race?
Yeah, it might already be over.
Scheffler holds a seven-shot lead over Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele. Morikawa posted the next-best round of the day (66) to shoot up the leaderboard, while Schauffele -- after starting the day two back of Scheffler -- struggled to go low at a course he has previously dominated before settling with a 70.
Let's take a look at Scheffler's first round and everything else that took place at the Tour Championship on Thursday.
Leader
1. Scottie Scheffler (-16):It feels strange to note that someone is this far under par after 18 holes, but that's just how it goes at the Tour Championship. The only reason not to already call this for Scheffler is that he has failed to touch off a six-shot lead in the final round at this course before. Rory McIlroy beat him in 2022 even though he started that tournament six back of Scheffler.
Still, this was a dream start for the No. 1 player in the world, who said he's trying to think about shooting more 65s and not the $25 million that he could win by finishing first on Sunday.
"I wasn't thinking about the lead out there today," Scheffler said. "There's no reason to. It's the first day of the tournament. It's 72 holes. It's a long time out there to be playing with a lead or whatever it is. I was just focused on staying in my own world and continuing to just try to execute."
Contenders
T2. Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele (-9)
T4. Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Keegan Bradley, Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott (-8)
9. Sahith Theegala (-7)
Morikawa tied Scott, Justin Thomas and Aaron Rai for second-lowest round of the day, and he certainly rode the biggest heater when he birdied the first six holes on the back nine on Thursday. We have been here with him before, though. Last year, Morikawa shot 61 in the opening round but faded back to T6 by the end of the week. Why? Well, it's so difficult to match the pace of the players who start at the top of the Tour Championship leaderboard, especially when it's Scheffler who starts at 10 under and shoots the lowest round in the field on Thursday.
"After [the ninth hole], I told myself to start only thinking about my shot and not worrying about if the ball is going to be perfect or not," said Morikawa, who shot 30 on the back nine. "We executed some shots, made some putts.
"Look, the game is good enough to come out here and win. I've just got to get out of my own head. I've talked a lot about that. It's hard because you try and perfect this game, and it is what it is. Sometimes it doesn't go your way, but you make doable scores. Today just got in a nice rhythm kind of around that turn."
Biggest movers
Up:Thomas went from T26 to T14 with his 66. While he's not going to win from the that spot, J.T. could absolutely play his way on to the U.S. Presidents Cup team with a great showing this week.
Down:There were a few who dropped nine spots. The one that stood out was Billy Horschel, who went from 21st to 30th after posting the worst round of the day, a 3-over 73. It was a disappointing showing from somebody who has been playing awesome golf and looked poised to make his second consecutive Presidents Cup team. Horschel and Thomas could be battling for that last spot.
2024 Tour Championship updated odds, picks
- Scottie Scheffler: 2/7
- Xander Schauffele: 8-1
- Collin Morikawa: 20-1
- Sam Burns: 30-1
- Hideki Matsuyama: 35-1
This is a tough one. Scheffler is almost certainly going to win given how he's playing and the lead he had going in, but if you make me pick somebody here, I'm going with Schauffele at 8-1. There is a lot of golf left, and Schauffele dominates at this golf course. It's not inconceivable that he and Scheffler could be tied or something like that this time on Friday evening. Scheffler finished 5th in putting while Schauffele was 22nd on Thursday. If that flips, look out. Then the odds on Schauffele will be closer to 2-1 or 3-1.
