(Atlanta) Collin Morikawa had the daunting task at the PGA Tour Championship, starting the tournament nine strokes behind but knowing there were 72 holes to play in the FedEx Cup final.
He finished his round with three birdies in a row for a 61 (minus nine), moving into the lead with Keegan Bradley (63) and BMW Championship winner Viktor Hovland (68).
They are within 10, the starting score of favorite Scottie Scheffler, at the East Lake club.
“It’s great,” Morikawa said. There’s no better time to start playing good golf. »
A total of 16 out of 30 golfers are only four strokes apart in the race for the $18 million prize.
That includes Rory McIlroy, who last year was 11 shots behind the front nine in the first round and six shots down going into the final day, before still managing to win.
Just getting to the first tee was something of a victory for McIlroy, who has been struggling with his back for the past three days. In fact, his 70 left him “totally thrilled”, just three shots from the top.
Initial score over par is based on FedEx Cup standings.
Scheffler is one stroke behind. He had three birdies in six holes and led by five strokes in the first half – before three greens where he needed three putts each time.
The biggest mistake was a tee shot in the water on the par-3 15, followed by three putts inside 15 feet.
On Sunday, Scheffler missed three putts under six feet on the final nine holes at Olympia Fields, costing him a chance to win the BMW Championship.
“I’m obviously quite frustrated with the way I played,” Scheffler said. It’s a bit of a blessing to have a pretty bad day and still be in the tournament. I just have to keep fighting. »
The playing formula is new for Bradley – he most recently took part in the tournament in 2014, when the tournament was based on points.
He excelled with three straight birdies on the front nine.
“I thought they mis-marked my score, then I realized it was the first time I’d played that formula,” Bradley said, smiling.
Canadian Corey Conners is eight strokes behind after a 70. On his last four holes, he bogeyed three times before hitting an eagle. His compatriot Nick Taylor is penultimate on the board, after a 71. He displays the par.