Atlanta, August 28: Akshay Bhatia showcased his talent at the Tour Championship, scoring an impressive five-under 65. This performance secured him a strong position in the title race. Meanwhile, Australia’s Min Woo Lee stole the spotlight by matching the course record with a remarkable score of 62 in the first round.
Among the 30 players, Bhatia, the only golfer of Indian descent, ended the day tied for fifth with world number one Scottie Scheffler. He was just three shots behind the leader, Lee. The 24-year-old Indian-American, sponsored by Hero, took full advantage of the favorable conditions at East Lake Golf Club. He recorded seven birdies but also faced two bogeys.
Starting from the first tee, Bhatia made his first birdie on the fifth hole and followed it up with another on the sixth. He continued his momentum with back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th holes, finishing strong with birdies on the 16th and 17th holes. Despite encountering a bogey on each nine-hole set, he maintained his composure and finished with a score of 65, solidifying his place in the competition.
After tying for 12th place at the BMW Championship last week, Bhatia arrived at East Lake ranked 15th in the FedEx Cup standings. He has successfully secured his spot among the top 30 players qualifying for the season’s final tournament.
Bhatia now has three more rounds to climb the leaderboard. The winner of this tournament will be crowned the FedEx Cup champion. Lee, playing in his first Tour Championship, made a significant impression with his eight-under 62. The Australian golfer’s performance was flawless, featuring eight birdies without any bogeys, giving him a two-shot lead. This score matched his career-low round on the PGA Tour, achieved earlier this season at The American Express tournament.
Lee’s impressive performance was particularly noteworthy as he had expressed concerns about his confidence due to poor performances in the previous two weeks. However, he showed no signs of struggle, capitalizing on opportunities presented by the soft greens. Four of his eight birdies came from distances over 10 feet, and he concluded his stellar round with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole.
Having started the week ranked 21st in the FedEx Cup, Lee’s season has been strong. He has participated in 19 tournaments and made the top 10 four times, with his best finishes being runner-up at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Scottish Open.
Victor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, and Chris Gotterup tied for second place with scores of six-under 64. 2023 FedEx Cup champion Hovland showcased exceptional putting, while Morikawa had a solid day on the greens, and Gotterup completed his round without any bogeys.
Scottie Scheffler, aiming for another FedEx Cup title, also performed well in the first round, matching Bhatia’s score of 65 without dropping a shot. The world number one had battled hand, foot, and mouth disease last week, but his game in Atlanta suggested he was nearly back to full fitness. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood started with a score of 66, while BMW Championship winner Wyndham Clark finished with a score of 67 after making two birdies in his last three holes.
Three-time FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy began his quest for a fourth title with a score of 68. Rain just before the start of play softened the East Lake course, resulting in unusually low scores. All 29 players who completed the first round finished at even par or better. Notably, 2025 U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun withdrew after five holes due to a shoulder injury.
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