Henley and Scheffler Shine at the Tour Championship
Russell Henley demonstrated astonishing precision on the green, while Scottie Scheffler dominated the fairways, leading the competition at East Lake. Both golfers took advantage of the favorable course conditions to begin their journey in the Tour Championship and the race for the FedEx Cup. Henley, with an outstanding performance, achieved a 61, nine under par, with six putts of a single stroke in his last seven holes and three birdies from considerable distances. This impressive round gave him a two-stroke lead over the world number one. Scheffler, for his part, maintained his excellent form and finished with a 63, his best score in the six participations at East Lake. He highlighted an important par save from 25 feet on the 16th hole, as well as two birdies. The day also had exciting moments, such as Rory McIlroy’s unexpected birdie after a tricky shot from a bunker. Play was stopped due to storms, forcing the evacuation of the course. The field conditions, softened by the rain, allowed the players to lift, clean, and place their balls in the short grass, which, according to Henley, facilitated the game.Henley led the field in putts, with a total of 207 feet of putts holed, highlighting his skill on the green. Meanwhile, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, and Patrick Cantlay, who are looking to secure a place in the Ryder Cup, are awaiting the captain’s selections. Scheffler, after his recent victory at the BMW Championship, demonstrated his consistency, although the wind made his approaches to the green difficult. A mistake on the 16th hole, where he missed the fairway, put him in a complicated situation, but he managed to recover. Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre also stood out with a 66. MacIntyre, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory, commented on the weather conditions and his preparation for the Ryder Cup. In total, seven players achieved rounds of 64 or less, setting a tournament record.“I felt that with the lift, clean and place system and something soft compared to last year, when the greens were brand new, it was a little softer, so it was a little more accessible,” Henley commented.
Russell Henley
