Since 2004 East Lake Golf Club has played home to the final stop of the PGA Tour. The final golf event of the season will also crown the 13th FedEx Cup Champion. Golf’s top-30 entered Atlanta Georgia Thursday with the Tour Championship and $10 million FedEx Cup prize in their sights.
2018 Tour Championship First Round
Entering the final leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, a win at East Lake would lock up the cup for any of the top-five point leaders. Unfortunately for the FedEx frontrunner Thursday saw Bryson DeChambeau bring up the back of the pack heading into round two. Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler and Tiger Woods led the pack and headlined some of the top highlights from the opening round of the 2018 Tour Championship.
All eyes on Tiger Woods
From his opening tee shot Tiger Woods seemed to be in prime position at East Lake.
It's easy to tell when Tiger likes it. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/qXT5gWRA6M
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
For the first time since 2013 Tiger Woods cards a birdie at East Lake Golf Club following an early bogey to get back to even par.
First birdie at East Lake since 2013 for @TigerWoods. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/O6XdoBpH6r
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
Following his birdie on 5 Woods settled in with another at the par-5 6th.
🐦-🐦
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
Not every shot has to be in the hole to make the highlight reel as Woods showed from behind a tree midway through his opening round.
From behind the tree.
Where did you expect it to end up? #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/p7KiM1aQEM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
Prowling for birdies at the par-4 12th, Woods tucked his 98-yard second shot in close.
Tucked pin?@TigerWoods is going right at it. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/IYxLkDfUf3
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
Woods moves to within one stroke of the lead with a birdie on the par-4 14th hole.
One. Back. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/MTkgihzHqr
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
In the early odds-on favorite for roar of the weekend Tiger Woods captured a share of the clubhouse lead with an eagle at 18 to end his round with a 5-under 65.
EAGLE!!!@TigerWoods buries it at the last to tie the lead. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/BJa9pIcXif
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
Rickie and the Rest of the Field
Entering the Tour Championship in 28th position, Gary Woodland took an early lead thanks to a long eagle putt at the par-5 6th hole.
From LONG range for 🦅!@GaryWoodland takes the early lead @playofffinale. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/nJnV1Nf2lF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
Rory McIlroy jumped out to a lead of his own briefly during the opening round following a stretch of four birdies over six holes.
Four birdies in six holes for Rory.
He leads by two. pic.twitter.com/qg43GwuPHD
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
Rickie Fowler sank his first of six birdies of the day at the par-4 5th hole leading to his share of first round lead.
Around and in.
First birdie of the day for @RickieFowler. pic.twitter.com/89c9oiJa3F
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
After a rough start to his round, number four in the FedEx Cup standings Dustin Johnson finished birdie, par, birdie, eagle over his final four holes to jump from 3-over to 1-under.
A flurry at the finish!@DJohnsonPGA goes 🐦-par-🐦-🦅 down the stretch to finish in red numbers.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/DeCDRyvQOf
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2018
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images