2025 Tour Championship Round 1: Russell Henley Soars with 61, Surpassing Scottie Scheffler on the Leaderboard!

Russell Henley had an impressive start at the 2025 Tour Championship, shooting a remarkable 9-under 61 at East Lake Golf Club. This performance puts him at the top of the leaderboard in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Henley recorded seven birdies and one eagle, maintaining a flawless round with no bogeys. He leads world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by two strokes and is three ahead of notable players like Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas.

Henley made an astounding 207 feet of putts, the most in his PGA Tour career and the highest at East Lake since 2004. He sank long putts from 42, 45, and 37 feet and gained over five strokes with the putter on the field. “I felt at peace if I missed,” Henley said, reflecting on his mindset during the round.

After starting slowly with four pars, he found his rhythm, notching ten birdies over 14 holes. His finishing putt was a clincher, solidifying his career-low round. Although Henley has been consistent, he faces a challenging field over the next 54 holes, including his Presidents Cup teammate, Scottie Scheffler.

Scheffler also had a strong showing, finishing the day with a 63, showcasing his skills under pressure. Notably, he has now recorded 18 straight rounds in the 60s. Even when he faced trouble on the course, he managed to save par, demonstrating why he’s the reigning FedEx Cup champion.

Among the contenders, Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay also performed well. Morikawa, who had struggled with putting earlier this summer, felt confident after working on it leading up to this tournament. He also managed to gain three strokes with his putting, which could bode well for him in future rounds.

The Tour Championship is unique this year with 12 players who haven’t won tournaments, relying on consistency to perform at their best. One newcomer, Akshay Bhatia, managed a strong start after making it into the tournament by luck at the BMW Championship, suggesting the potential for surprises.

The FedEx Cup playoffs are intense. Players not only aim for the championship but for a notable piece of history as well. Could someone without a win claim the FedEx Cup title this season? Only time will tell as the competition heats up.

For more insights into player performances and statistics, you can explore PGA Tour.

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