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 file.
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 12 months the file 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 resolve 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 excited about the lead on the market in the present day,” Scheffler mentioned after.
“There’s no purpose 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 closing 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 assume a lot in regards to the beginning strokes stuff,” Scheffler added.
“I feel it’s nonetheless a bit bizarre that it’s not a standard occasion. However yeah, it was good to get off to an excellent begin within the first spherical, and I really feel like I did loads of issues properly in the present day.”
Two years in the past, Scheffler held a 5-shot benefit after the primary spherical at East Lake. Like this 12 months, he started the championship with a two-shot lead, however Rory McIlroy finally tracked him down on Sunday and received his third FedEx Cup title. Scheffler, in the meantime, has not but received the FedEx Cup, which can 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 greatest: staying within the course of, 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 an everyday stroke play occasion, I’d be sitting fairly far again from the lead,” Scheffler added.
“So I’m treating it like I’d every other match, simply staying in my lane and doing the issues I’m good at, and that’s simply attempting to concentrate on 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 seems to be far more potential than the latter.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. Be sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
