As the final round unfolds at East Lake, Tommy Fleetwood has taken the solo lead at 16 under par after a solid par on the first hole. In contrast, Patrick Cantlay faced an early setback, bogeying the first hole after landing in the thick right rough, dropping his score to 15 under. The day is shaping up to be a challenging one for the final pairing as they contend with nerves, the course conditions, and each other. At this moment, Fleetwood holds the upper hand.
In a thrilling turn of events, Caitlin Clark, a renowned basketball star and avid golf fan, has expressed her excitement for Fleetwood’s quest for his first career victory. As a fan favorite, Fleetwood has garnered support not just from golf enthusiasts but also from prominent athletes across other sports. Clark is ready to emotionally invest in Fleetwood's journey, hoping to see him conquer the challenges that lie ahead.
In an unfortunate start, Scottie Scheffler found himself out of bounds on the first tee, continuing his struggle with left misses that have plagued his season. His initial drive veered left and crept under the fence, resulting in a difficult position to recover from. Starting the day four strokes behind the leaders, Scheffler now faces an uphill battle to minimize damage and stay in contention.
Victor Hovland, the 2023 FedEx Cup champion, is making a strong showing, currently 3 under through his first five holes. With a par 5 ahead, he looks poised to maintain his impressive scoring pace. Notably, the first hole is playing significantly easier today compared to the previous rounds, where the average score hovered around 4.50.
With just two hours remaining until the leaders, Fleetwood and Cantlay, tee off at 1:44 p.m. ET, the atmosphere at East Lake is electric. Cantlay is eager to break a three-year winless streak and secure his spot in the Ryder Cup next month at Bethpage Black. Meanwhile, Fleetwood aims to achieve his long-awaited first PGA Tour victory, hoping to avoid another heartbreaking Sunday. Close behind them are contenders like Keegan Bradley, who is looking to solidify his role as a Ryder Cup playing captain, and Russell Henley, who is in pursuit of the biggest win of his career. As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on these players, promising an exhilarating final Sunday of the season.
