ATLANTA – The finale of the PGA Tour season began with a dramatic shift as Patrick Cantlay unleashed a blistering 6-under-par 64 to catch World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, creating a tie at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the 2025 Tour Championship. Both players concluded Thursday's play at 12-under par, setting the stage for a tense battle for the coveted FedEx Cup.

Scheffler, who entered the tournament as the top seed, began with a two-stroke advantage at 10-under par under the event's Starting Strokes format. He carded a solid but unspectacular 2-under 68 at East Lake Golf Club. However, his steady play was overshadowed by the brilliance of Cantlay, who started the day four shots behind at 6-under.

Cantlay's Charge, Scheffler's Stand

Cantlay was dialed in from the start, recording seven birdies against a single bogey. His immaculate iron play and confident putting applied relentless pressure, methodically closing the gap on Scheffler throughout the afternoon. A crucial birdie on the par-5 18th hole cemented his share of the lead, transforming the tournament from a presumed chase into a dead heat.

"You know you have to go out and make birdies in this format," Cantlay said in a post-round interview with PGA Tour Radio. "Scottie is not going to go backward. I had a good plan, executed it well, and it's nice to be in this position heading into the weekend."

Scheffler, meanwhile, navigated the challenging East Lake layout with consistency but failed to produce the fireworks needed to extend his initial lead. His round included four birdies and two bogeys, a performance that keeps him in prime position but invites a host of challengers.

The Chasing Pack Stays Close

While the leaders dueled, several other top players positioned themselves to make a run over the next three rounds. Rory McIlroy, who started the day at 4-under, fired an impressive 5-under 65 to move to 9-under overall, just three shots off the lead. McIlroy, a three-time FedEx Cup champion, looked comfortable and determined to add a historic fourth title to his resume.

Defending champion Viktor Hovland had a more difficult day. Starting in second place at 8-under, he posted a level-par 70, failing to gain any ground. He now sits in fourth place, four strokes behind Scheffler and Cantlay. Close behind him is Xander Schauffele, whose 4-under 66 moved him to 7-under for the tournament.

The leaderboard remains tightly packed, promising an unpredictable and exciting conclusion to the season.

| Player | Starting Score | R1 Score | Total Score | | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Scottie Scheffler | -10 | -2 (68) | -12 | | Patrick Cantlay | -6 | -6 (64) | -12 | | Rory McIlroy | -4 | -5 (65) | -9 | | Viktor Hovland | -8 | E (70) | -8 | | Xander Schauffele | -3 | -4 (66) | -7 |

The Stakes and the Path Forward

The 30 players competing at East Lake are vying for the PGA Tour's ultimate prize: the FedEx Cup and its $18 million first-place bonus from a total pool of $75 million. The tournament's unique staggered-start format, based on season-long performance, is designed to ensure that the winner of the Tour Championship is also crowned the FedEx Cup champion.

With three rounds remaining, the tournament is wide open. Players will now look to Friday’s second round to either solidify their position or make a significant move up the leaderboard. Weather forecasts for the weekend in Atlanta predict warm and humid conditions with a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms, which could add another layer of complexity to the competition. The pressure will only intensify as Sunday's final round approaches, where one player will claim the season's biggest prize.