European trio lead the way in FedEx Cup finale
EUROPE only has four golfers among the 29 competing here at the Tour Championship but how they made their presence felt on the opening day as Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey and Rory McIlroy took up residence at the top of an i mpressive- l ooking leaderboard.
Stenson’s brilliant round of 63 was particularly significant since he is one of the five golfers in the enviable position of knowing victory would also mean he would claim the FedEx Cup, with its £7.5 million bonus. The big Swede hasn’t won all season, so it would be particularly timely with all this loot at stake. It was here at East Lake where he ran away from the field to win it all two years ago.
As for McIlroy, he recovered well from a sluggish start, moving smoothly through the gears with three birdies in a row from the 7th on his way to a wonderful 66. All the talk coming in had been about new world No 1 Jason Day and Jordan Spieth but the Northern Irishman l ooks in the mood to put his difficult summer behind him and post a win that would have ‘remember me?’ written all over it.
In the four years prior to this one, Casey finished 136th, 221st, 193rd and 108th in the FedEx Cup standings, so simply making it to this event underlines his welcome renaissance.
After half a dozen top-six finishes and only two missed halfway cuts, the only thing missing to complete the Englishman’s recovery from the depths is a victory, and maybe he will have a chance here at the PGA Tour’s grand finale after a fine 65.
‘People keep saying to me I just need a win and I’ve still got time to fix that — just,’ he said, smiling.
On days like this he really is a ball striker from the top drawer, perhaps lacking just that ounce of self-belief a victory in an event as prestigious as this one would bring.
FedEx leader Day described himself in the build-up as a cross between McIlroy and Spieth. Over the opening holes it looked like he was being too modest. More like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, as his amazing form continued with three straight birdies for starters.
Just as it looked as if the rest were playing for FedEx place money already, he turned into the love child of a couple of hackers, as he ran up a triple bogey at the fifth.
He’s still well in contention, however, and was one under for his r ound with t wo holes remaining.
The fourth European competing? Justin Rose didn’t do too badly either with a 70.