There would not be any question, if you were aware of what transpired, that Russell Henley is the leader, perhaps even the person to be most concerned about after Round 1 of the golf season-ending PGA Tour Championship. Henley fired a 9-under 61, his best-ever, and heads into Round 2 with a two-shot lead over World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
Backstory & Big Moments
Henley played a very solid round (no bogeys)—evidencing how well he was playing under pressure, setting the clubhouse early at the top.
Scheffler threw his name into contention with a bogey-free 7-under 63. He remains a threat, and betting favorite.
Rory McIlroy ended with a weird finish in which he pulled off a ‘one-on-a-million’ birdie—as his incredible shot from the bunker headed into the grandstand on the 18th hole and ricocheted back toward the green, as McIlroy’s tough luck perhaps helped his fellow competitors coast into the phase of a small, marketable incident that even made Scheffler applaud even the bounce. The bounce solidified the moment with a bow on McIlroy’s entertaining 4-under 66.
Takeaways from Tuesday: Who’s Hot, Who Isn’t?
Russell Henley: Unblemished, aggressive, and now an early frontrunner;
Scottie Scheffler: Obviously still a threat; steady and playing well;
Rory McIlroy: Lucky, clutch, and will grab momentum with him;
Tommy Fleetwood & Robert MacIntyre: Just pleasing starts with 6-under 64’s quietly looming.
What’s Next?
A rain delay ushered in early Round 2 tee times. The real drama is the approach of night, as shots are getting close to the high stakes of East Lake’s final three holes; any competitor can win now.