Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion, continued his dominant performance at the Tour Championship, holding a comfortable four-stroke lead heading into the weekend. Scheffler, who started the tournament with a two-shot advantage, extended his lead to seven after the first round. He was cruising at 3 under par for the day and 19 under for the tournament when lightning forced a suspension of play on Friday afternoon.
Eight players, including Scheffler, were still on the course when thunderstorms rolled in. Scheffler had just teed off on the 16th hole at East Lake Golf Club. Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa were making a strong push, each shooting 6 under for the round and 15 under for the tournament, closing the gap on Scheffler’s substantial lead.
Sahith Theegala, Wyndham Clark, and Australia’s Adam Scott were tied for fourth place at 12 under. Theegala had just completed his round, a stellar 5-under 66, which propelled him into contention.
The fate of the remaining eight players, who were unable to finish their rounds, is uncertain. It is unclear whether they will be able to return to the course on Friday or if they will resume play on Saturday morning.
The Tour Championship utilizes a unique staggered scoring format, where players start the tournament at different scores based on their season-long points race. The winner of the tournament will take home the coveted FedEx Cup and a $25 million prize, making the event a highly anticipated conclusion to the PGA Tour season.
