McIlroy, Scheffler Lead TOUR Championship Opening Round at East Lake

At the 2025 Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, Rory McIlroy made a highly unusual birdie on the 18th hole after his bunker shot ricocheted off a hospitality tent and grandstand back onto the green, allowing him to complete his round just before play was suspended due to impending weather. This fortunate bounce not only saved time but also kept McIlroy, who finished with a 66, in contention, trailing leader Russell Henley by five shots. Playing alongside McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, the FedExCup points leader and reigning PGA and British Open champion, posted a bogey-free 63 to sit two shots behind Henley, aided by his strong putting performance. The 2025 Tour Championship featured a significant format change, with all players starting at even par rather than receiving staggered starting strokes based on prior playoff results; Scheffler, despite criticizing the removal of this format, still performed strongly. The dramatic finish on the 18th hole underscored the competitive tension and strategic challenges faced by the top players under the new format, with weather conditions prompting an early start to the second round. Both McIlroy and Scheffler expressed relief and amusement at the unusual circumstances that allowed their round to finish on time amid the approaching storm.