Crowds swell as Tiger takes share of first-round lead
The crowd at East Lake was larger and louder than it has been in five years, which was the last time Tiger Woods was at the Tour Championship contested by the PGA’s top 30 golfers. It was no coincidence.
Woods played one of his best rounds of the year in his return to the FedEx Cup finale and caused the biggest cheer of a sun-baked afternoon by making an eagle putt from just over 25 feet on the par-five 18th for a five-under-par 65 and a share of the lead with Rickie Fowler.
It was the second time in as many FedEx Cup playoff events that Woods was tied for the 18-hole lead.
He shot a 62 at Aronimink in the opening round of the BMW Championship two weeks ago on a rain-soaked course that allowed just about everyone to go low. This felt even better on a dry, tougher East Lake course.
‘‘This was by far better than the 62 at Aronimink,’’ Woods said.
‘‘Conditions were soft there. This, it’s hard to get the ball closer. If you drive the ball in the rough, you know you can’t get the ball close. You just can’t control it.’’
Fowler, who missed two playoff events while recovering from an injury to his right oblique, putted for birdie on all but two holes for his 65 as he tries to avoid ending the season without winning.
Englishman Justin Rose, in his debut as the No 1 player in the world, got upand-down from the bunker for birdie on the 18th for a 66 and was tied with Gary Woodland.
Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, all of whom will be in France next week for the Ryder Cup, were another shot behind.