Min Woo Lee surged ahead early in the PGA Tour's season‑closing Tour Championship, while Rory McIlroy experienced a mixed start in his quest for FedExCup supremacy. Lee delivered a flawless 62, posting eight birdies without a single bogey at East Lake Golf Club, where the course was playing soft under preferred lies after an overnight rain. All 29 competitors who completed the round managed to stay at or under par, underscoring the favorable conditions. The 28‑year‑old Australian now enjoys a two‑stroke lead over a trio of challengers: Chris Gotterup, Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, who finished his opening round with a birdie‑birdie finish to card a 65, has closed the gap to within three shots of the leader. Ludvig Åberg, Akshay Bhatia and Ryan Gerard are also tied at five under par, while defending champion Tommy Fleetwood lags a shot behind his group that includes fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick and Open champion Ryan Fox. Wyndham Clark, the recent BMW Championship victor, sits five strokes back after a three‑under 67.
McIlroy, meanwhile, finds himself tied for 20th after a roller‑coaster 68 that featured five birdies but also three costly bogeys, leaving his bid for a record‑extending fourth FedExCup title very much alive but far from secure. Lee’s round was marked by a series of back‑to‑back birdies beginning on the fourth hole. He then played the remainder of his round solo after his playing partner, JJ Spaun, withdrew on the sixth hole with a shoulder injury.
Despite the isolation, Lee kept his composure, trading the top spot with Hovland as he moved through the field two groups ahead. He closed a bogey‑free front nine by sinking a 20‑foot birdie putt on the eighth and adding another birdie on the ninth. On the back nine, Lee continued his momentum, recording consecutive birdies on the 12th and 13th holes and adding a short‑range birdie at the 16th. This surge gave him a two‑stroke cushion when Hovland’s flawless day was interrupted by a three‑putt bogey from 25 feet on the 17th.
Hovland responded by scrambling from a greenside bunker to birdie the final par‑five, setting a clubhouse target of six under par. Lee answered with a matching birdie on the 18th, preserving his two‑shot lead and equalling the lowest round of his PGA Tour career.
"It felt a bit odd at first, like I was searching for a playing partner and ended up alone," Lee reflected. "I focused on maintaining my tempo and not rushing. I had to slow down a little, and it paid off." Morikawa, who began his round with a bogey, rallied to post seven birdies, pulling even with Hovland.
Gotterup birdied three of his final five holes, creating a three‑way tie for second place. Åberg finished strong with a three‑birdie finish, joining Bhatia and Gerard at five under.
Scheffler rounded out the top five, holing a 10‑foot birdie on the final hole to record his fourth 65‑or‑better round in five seasons. Scheffler commented, "Except for the first hole, I wasn't really fighting for par. That's always a good sign here.
Every missed fairway at East Lake makes par a struggle, but I gave myself chances and managed to snag a couple of birdies at the end." McIlroy’s round was a tale of two halves. He briefly fell to the bottom of the leaderboard after failing to get up and down from a bunker on the first hole and making a bogey on the fourth despite an eight‑foot putt. He recovered with a birdie on the sixth, but missed a four‑foot birdie chance on the ninth. He then produced two birdies in three holes to start his back nine, salvaged a clumsy bogey on the 14th, and promptly birdied the next par‑three from six feet.
A further birdie on the 17th gave him a modest finish, leaving only five players below him heading into round two. The Tour Championship continues to shape the FedExCup race, with each player jockeying for position in a tightly packed leaderboard. Sky Sports will broadcast all four rounds live, offering fans the chance to follow every swing, putt, and strategic decision.
For those unable to watch on television, streaming options are available without a contract through NOW, ensuring the drama of the final tournament remains accessible to a global audience. Beyond the competition, golfers and fans alike can take advantage of special offers on golf travel and equipment. With over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, enthusiasts can book a round at a nearby venue, search by course name, city, or postcode, and enjoy discounted rates. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a weekend player, the Tour Championship provides inspiration and a reminder of the skill, perseverance, and mental toughness required to succeed at the highest level of the sport.