In a remarkable display of skill, Justin Thomas turned in an impressive score of 29 during his front nine, showcasing his mastery around the green. He made an astonishing six birdies, including a spectacular long-range putt from over 30 feet on the 9th hole. Thomas's performance was highlighted by a total of over 100 feet of putts made, along with a chip-in birdie on his opening hole, solidifying his status as a top contender in the tournament.
Scottie Scheffler continues his excellent form as he quickly secures two birdies on the 2nd and 3rd holes, moving to 2 under par for the tournament. With his sights set on the lead, Scheffler trails Collin Morikawa by three strokes, who is currently navigating through the back nine at an impressive 5 under, leading the pack over Patrick Cantlay and Ludvig Aberg.
In an exciting matchup, the top two players in golf, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, share a Thursday tee time for the second consecutive week. Both players are chasing history: Scheffler aims to become the first golfer to win the FedEx Cup in back-to-back years, while McIlroy is vying for his fourth title, having already set the record with three. They begin their rounds four strokes behind the early leaders, including Nick Taylor, Jacob Bridgeman, and Collin Morikawa.
Among the 12 players in the Tour Championship yet to secure a win this season, Jacob Bridgeman is making a strong push for his first victory. He showcased his talent with a solid par save on the 9th hole, finishing the front nine at 4 under, putting him in a tie for the lead with Nick Taylor. Bridgeman's performance is particularly noteworthy given that under the previous tournament format, he may not have had the opportunity to compete for the title.
Nick Taylor is off to a fantastic start at East Lake, notching another birdie on the par-5 6th hole to elevate his score to 4 under for the round. This performance has allowed him to extend his lead to two strokes over Collin Morikawa, who is also making a strong showing with several birdies of his own. As the winner of the Sony Open, Taylor entered the week ranked No. 25 in the FedEx Cup standings, but thanks to this week’s format, he finds himself atop the leaderboard.
Despite facing some challenges this summer, including media scrutiny and multiple caddie changes, Collin Morikawa is putting together a solid performance. After a good par save on the 1st hole, he followed up with back-to-back quality iron shots, giving him a chance to sink an 8-foot putt on the 3rd hole to get into red figures early. His underlying metrics suggest that he is performing better than his recent finishes might indicate.
