ATLANTA — Will anybody catch Scottie Scheffler now?
The World No. 1 posted a 6-under 65 on Thursday, the bottom spherical of the day, as he now holds a commanding seven-shot benefit over Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele on the Tour Championship.
His large lead additionally units a PGA Tour report.
He’s the primary participant to carry a lead of seven strokes or extra after 18 holes at a PGA Tour occasion since 1983, the yr the report ebook dates to. Granted, Scheffler did start with a two-shot benefit by way of the Tour Championship’s beginning strokes format. Scheffler has talked about how a lot he doesn’t just like the format, however it’s less than him to determine how issues will play out at East Lake.
But, having the lead didn’t cross Scheffler’s thoughts whereas out on the course on Thursday.
“I wasn’t desirous about the lead on the market at present,” Scheffler stated after.
“There’s no cause to. It’s the primary day of the match. It’s 72 holes. It’s a very long time on the market to be taking part in with a lead or no matter it’s. I used to be simply centered on staying in my very own world and persevering with to only attempt to execute.”
Execute, he did.
After bogeying the par-4 1st, Scheffler dropped again to 9-under and right into a tie for the lead with Schauffele, who birdied the opening gap. However Scheffler then proceeded to play East Lake’s remaining 17 holes in 7-under, making seven birdies and 10 pars to open up a large lead with three rounds to go.
“I’m attempting to not suppose a lot in regards to the beginning strokes stuff,” Scheffler added.
“I believe it’s nonetheless a bit bizarre that it’s not a conventional occasion. However yeah, it was good to get off to a superb begin within the first spherical, and I really feel like I did a whole lot of issues nicely at present.”
Two years in the past, Scheffler held a 5-shot benefit after the primary spherical at East Lake. Like this yr, he started the championship with a two-shot lead, however Rory McIlroy in the end tracked him down on Sunday and received his third FedEx Cup title. Scheffler, in the meantime, has not but received the FedEx Cup, which is able to award $25 million in bonus cash on Sunday.
But, Scheffler continues to not dwell on the previous nor take into consideration the peculiarity of this week’s format. As an alternative, he’s doing what he does finest: staying within the current, executing shot after shot, and making a ton of birdies.
“If I got here out right here and shot 2-over par, and this was a daily stroke play occasion, I’d be sitting fairly far again from the lead,” Scheffler added.
“So I’m treating it like I’d another match, simply staying in my lane and doing the issues I’m good at, and that’s simply attempting to give attention to the duty at hand and let all the opposite stuff maintain itself.”
By 18 holes, that has certainly been the case. Scheffler appeared unstoppable from tee to inexperienced, giving himself wonderful alternative after alternative. He additionally gained 1.43 strokes on the greens Thursday, good for fifth within the subject, whereas making nearly 100 toes value of putts. When his putter cooperates, he dominates, and that was on full show on Thursday in Atlanta.
However now the query is, will Scheffler maintain the pedal to medal, or will somebody come from behind to catch him like McIlroy did two years in the past? Proper now, the previous appears to be like way more doable than the latter.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. You should definitely try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.
