Scottie Scheffler in pole for FedExCup title at Tour Championship

**Scottie Scheffler Dominates First Round of Tour Championship, Eyes FedExCup Title**

In the highly anticipated finale of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup playoffs, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has once again positioned himself at the top, proving why he’s the player to beat. Scheffler surged ahead with an impressive six-under 65 during the first round of the Tour Championship on August 29, securing a commanding seven-shot lead.

The Tour Championship, held at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, features a unique format designed to reward players based on their standings in the FedExCup. Scheffler, who entered the tournament at 10-under par due to his leading position, quickly capitalized on his advantage. His strong opening round elevated him to 16-under, solidifying his position at the top of the leaderboard.

His nearest competitors, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele, are tied for second place. Morikawa shot an impressive five-under 66, bringing him to nine-under, while Schauffele, who started at eight-under, carded a one-under 70 to sit in the same position.

Despite a minor setback on the first hole where he bogeyed, Scheffler recovered swiftly, finishing the day with seven birdies. Reflecting on his round, the Masters champion remarked, “I’m trying not to think much about the starting strokes stuff. It’s still a bit weird with it not being a traditional event. But it was nice to get off to a good start in the first round.”

Scheffler has approached this tournament with a determination to overcome past shortcomings. In the previous two years, he entered the Tour Championship with a lead but failed to clinch the Cup. This year, he’s focusing on treating the event like a regular 72-hole competition. “Treating it like I would any other tournament, just staying in my lane and doing the things I’m good at, trying to focus on the task at hand and let all the other stuff take care of itself,” he added.

He also emphasized the importance of accuracy at East Lake, noting that staying on the fairways is crucial given the challenges posed by the course’s firm, newly renovated greens. This point was underscored by Schauffele, who struggled with his driving accuracy, resulting in four bogeys and just one birdie. “Kind of hit it in the rough a lot, and with brand new greens, I think I scored okay actually for how bad I hit it. But yeah, overall it was kind of a ‘meh’ day,” Schauffele admitted. “Scottie was almost in every fairway it looked like. If you’re in the fairway you can attack this golf course.”

Collin Morikawa, who managed six consecutive birdies from the 10th hole onwards, appears to be one of the few players capable of challenging Scheffler’s dominance. “I’m going to use that back nine to hopefully push myself the next three days,” Morikawa said, signaling his intent to contend for the title.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Scheffler as he aims to maintain his lead and finally secure the FedExCup title that has eluded him in the past.