The first round of the Tour Championship ended in dramatic circumstances as Rory McIlroy managed to putt for birdie after his ball hit the grandstand and settled near the 18th hole
Rory McIlroy benefited from a fortunate bounce on the 18th hole to make an unlikely birdie at East Lake Golf Course during a strong start to the Tour Championship.
McIlroy faced a difficult bunker shot and misjudged his chip when aiming for the green, but his ball ricocheted off the grandstand and settled 15 feet from the pin. McIlroy made the putt to finish the first round four-under-par, and shook his head in disbelief as Scottie Scheffler broke into laughter.
At the BMW Championship last week, Scheffler made one of the shots of the tournament with a stunning 81-foot chip putt on the 17th. This time, it was McIlroy’s turn, and it kept him in contention after the PGA Tour made a controversial format change to the FedEx Cup.
Previously, players entered the Tour Championship with starting strokes based on their performance at previous events. While this rewarded consistency, some players were out of contention after the first round.
This year, that format has been removed. All 30 players started Thursday at even par, and the Tour Championship reverted to the traditional 72-hole stroke-play format.
The format change received mixed reactions, and Scheffler was critical. “I think it’s silly,” Scheffler said in August 2024. “You can’t call it a season-long race and have it come down to one tournament.
“Hypothetically, we get to East Lake, and my neck flares up, and it doesn’t heal the way it did at the Players. I finished 30th in the FedEx Cup because I had to withdraw from the last tournament. Is that really the season-long race? No. It is what it is.”
McIlroy claimed that Scheffler was the reason for the change, as the World No. 1 has been so dominant. “I love this format because if it wasn’t this format, then none of us would have a chance against Scottie because he’s so far ahead,” McIlroy said last year.
“So I really like this format… I think it makes the Tour Championship more exciting from a consumer standpoint. Is it the fairest reflection of who’s been the best player of the year? Probably not.
“But I think at this point we’re not in for totally fair; we’re in for entertainment and for trying to put on the best product we possibly can.”
When speaking to the media on Tuesday before the Tour Championship, McIlroy suggested that competition could be increased as everyone involved would be keen to finish the season strong. “It has a different feel,” McIlroy said. “Anyone of the 30 has a chance to win the FedExCup this year, which is obviously a lot different than it’s been in previous years.
“I think with that, it’s a clean slate for everyone, and it’s a great opportunity for one of the guys that maybe wasn’t a huge part of the season to put their hand up and have a chance to win the big prize at the end of the year. It’s also a great opportunity for some of the guys that have had great years to sort of rubber-stamp the season a little bit and end on a really, really positive note.”
Russell Henley is the tournament leader heading into the second round, after he carded 61 to finish nine-under for the day. Scheffler is two strokes behind him in second.
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