Akshay Bhatia Opens With 65 at Tour Championship as Min Woo Lee Takes Lead
Atlanta — Akshay Bhatia moved into early contention at the Tour Championship with a five-under 65, while Australia’s Min Woo Lee set the pace with a course-record-tying 62 in the opening round at East Lake Golf Club.
Bhatia, the only Indian-origin golfer in the 30-player field, finished the day tied for fifth alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, three shots behind Lee.
The 24-year-old Indian-American made seven birdies and two bogeys in favorable scoring conditions after rain softened the course.
Starting on the first hole, Bhatia made his first birdie at the fifth and added another at the sixth. He then birdied the 11th and 12th before closing strongly with birdies on the 16th and 17th.
His two bogeys came one on each nine, but he otherwise played steadily to remain within striking distance of the lead.
Bhatia entered the Tour Championship 15th in the FedExCup standings after finishing tied for 12th at last week’s BMW Championship. He was among the top 30 players to qualify for the season-ending event.
Lee, making his Tour Championship debut, delivered the round of the day with an eight-under 62. He made eight birdies without a bogey to take a two-shot lead.
The score matched the lowest round of Lee’s PGA TOUR career, which he first recorded at The American Express earlier this season.
Lee entered the tournament after two disappointing weeks but showed no signs of struggling Thursday. He made four birdie putts from more than 10 feet and finished his round with a birdie on the par-five 18th.
Lee began the week 21st in the FedExCup standings after posting four top-10 finishes in 19 starts this season. His best results were runner-up finishes at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Scottish Open.
Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup were tied for second at six-under 64.
Hovland, the 2023 FedExCup champion, produced a strong putting performance, while Morikawa also had success on the greens. Gotterup completed a bogey-free round.
Scheffler matched Bhatia’s 65 without making a bogey. The world No. 1, who was affected by hand, foot and mouth disease last week, appeared closer to full fitness in Atlanta.
Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood opened with a 66, while BMW Championship winner Wyndham Clark shot a 67 after making two birdies over his final three holes.
Rory McIlroy, the only three-time FedExCup champion, began his pursuit of a fourth title with a 68.
Scoring was unusually low after rain softened East Lake shortly before play began. All 29 players who completed the opening round finished at even par or better.
The field was reduced when 2025 U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun withdrew after five holes because of a shoulder injury. (Source: IANS)
