Scheffler Pursues Lee’s Lead at Tour Championship After McIlroy’s Uneven Start

Min Woo Lee surged into the early lead at the PGA Tour’s season‑ending Tour Championship, while Rory McIlroy got off to a mixed start in his pursuit of FedExCup glory.

Lee posted eight birdies in a bogey‑free 62 at East Lake Golf Club, where preferred lies were in effect after overnight rain, and every player who finished the round broke par.

The Australian now holds a two‑shot advantage over Chris Gotterup, Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa, as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished his opening round with a birdie‑birdie finish on a 65 to sit just three shots behind the leader.

Ludvig Åberg, Akshay Bhatia and Ryan Gerard join Scheffler at five‑under par, while defending champion Tommy Fleetwood trails by another shot in a group that includes compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick and Open champion Ryan Fox.

Last week’s BMW Championship winner Wyndham Clark is five shots back after a three‑under 67, and McIlroy sits tied for 20th after mixing five birdies with three bogeys in an eventful 68 as he begins his bid for a record‑extending fourth FedExCup title.

How Lee Took the Early Lead at East Lake

Lee recorded back‑to‑back birdies starting on the fourth hole and then played the rest of the round alone after his partner, JJ Spaun, withdrew on the sixth hole with a shoulder injury.

The 28‑year‑old continued to trade the top spot with Hovland, who was playing two groups ahead, and Lee closed out a bogey‑free front nine by sinking a 20‑foot birdie at the eighth and adding another at the ninth.

Lee added back‑to‑back birdies on the 12th and another close‑range effort at the 16th, moving two shots clear when Hovland carded a three‑putt bogey from 25 feet at the 17th.

Hovland responded by getting up and down from a greenside bunker to birdie the par‑five final hole, setting the clubhouse target at six‑under, before Lee matched his closing birdie to restore his two‑shot cushion and equal the lowest round of his PGA Tour career.

“It was a little strange at first, just like looking for a playing partner and finding yourself out there alone,” Lee said. “I simply had to keep my tempo steady and not rush; slowing down a bit worked out well.”

Morikawa rebounded from an opening‑hole bogey to card seven birdies and pull level with Hovland, while Gotterup birdied three of his last five holes to create a three‑way tie for second place.

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