Atlanta, Georgia – American Russell Henley rode a remarkable putting performance to a scorching nine-under par 61 on Thursday, taking a two-shot lead over top-ranked Scottie Scheffler in the opening round of the US PGA Tour Championship. With a star-studded field chasing a winner-take-all $10 million prize, Henley’s flawless round at East Lake Golf Club set a blistering pace.
Henley’s Putting Masterclass
The world No. 4, who won his fifth PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, used a brilliant closing stretch to separate himself from the pack. He cemented his lead with three consecutive birdies to finish his round. The final burst began with a spectacular 42-foot putt on the 16th, followed by a 34-foot birdie at the 17th. He capped it off by getting up and down from a greenside bunker for birdie on the par-five 18th. In total, Henley made 207 feet of putts, with three coming from beyond 30 feet, marking the best putting day of his career.
Scheffler, McIlroy in Pursuit
While Henley’s round was a putting clinic, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the defending FedEx Cup champion, was not far behind. Scheffler played a bogey-free seven-under par 63, showcasing his trademark consistency. He made several key putts, including a 27-footer on the 10th and another on the 17th, to finish his day in solo second place. The American’s round was a testament to his relentless form, having won five of his last 10 starts and securing major titles at the PGA Championship and British Open this year.
A crowded leaderboard sits just behind the top two. A group of five players, including two-time major winners Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa, are tied for third at six-under 64. They are joined by Patrick Cantlay, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, and England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy carded a four-under 66, but his round was highlighted by a moment of pure luck on the 18th. His shot out of a greenside bunker flew over the green, hit the grandstand, and bounced back onto the putting surface, allowing him to drain a 17-foot putt for an unlikely birdie.
This year’s Tour Championship is being played under a new format, where all 30 players started at even par, a departure from previous years’ staggered scoring. This change creates a more traditional stroke-play tournament where the player with the lowest score at the end of the four days will claim the FedEx Cup trophy and the massive prize.
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