Lee Sets Pace at East Lake, Fleetwood Lurks Four Back
Min Woo Lee carded a bogey-free 62 to take an eight-under lead after the first round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood sits four strokes behind after a 66, while Rory McIlroy opened with a 68. The winner on Sunday will claim the FedEx Cup and a $10 million prize.
Lee's opening 62 matched his career-best round on the PGA Tour and came just a week after he finished near the bottom of the field at the BMW Championship. His round was aided by an unusual circumstance when playing partner JJ Spaun withdrew after four holes, leaving Lee to pace himself alone for much of the day. The Australian won the Scottish Open last month and is seeking his first FedEx Cup title.
McIlroy's 68 featured early struggles with bogeys on two of his first four holes before he steadied himself on the back nine. Scheffler closed strongly with a birdie on the 18th to reach five under, while MacIntyre's eagle came from a putt exceeding 30 feet on the sixth hole. Notably, none of the 29 players who completed their rounds finished over par.
This event carries significant financial stakes, with the winner earning $10 million, which may draw broader attention to golf's season finale beyond dedicated fans. The strong international leaderboard could boost global interest in the sport, particularly in Australia given Lee's position. However, the tournament's impact remains largely contained to golf enthusiasts, as the FedEx Cup format and staggered scoring system may still confuse casual viewers.