ATLANTA – Even Scottie Scheffler had to break out into a broad smile after watching his playing partner, Rory McIlroy, convert a 17-foot birdie putt on the home hole at East Lake Golf Club Thursday afternoon. He was rather relieved, too.
Well, McIlroy’s birdie was far from routine. But it served a purpose. It enabled the two men to complete their opening round of the Tour Championship just seconds before a horn sounded signaling dangerous weather approaching.
The final twosome on the course, McIlroy and Scheffler both found bunkers in front of the green on the par-5 18th hole. Playing first from 39 yards from the pin, McIlroy caught his ball flush and it went screaming towards the grandstands behind the green. But instead of ending up in the seating area, which would have required a lengthy rules situation including a free drop, his ball bounced off the façade and onto the green.
“Got a little thin, came out a little faster than obviously I wanted it to, but at that point you’re just hoping that something is going to happen,” said the Masters champion. “All the TIO [temporary immovable obstruction] lovers are going to love that one on Twitter tonight.”
The world No. 2 player just had to make the putt, which he did, prompting him to raise his arm in celebration and then laugh. He looked at Scheffler, who wore a huge smile.
“I have never rooted so hard for somebody’s ball to come back, outside of my partner in a team event,” said Scheffler, world No. 1 and five-time winner this season. “Because we’re walking to 18 and Bones [NBC broadcaster Jim Mackay] told us they were going to blow [the horn, suspending play] at any second, so I’m watching his ball fly towards the grandstand. I’m like, ‘Oh, my gosh, we’ve got no way of finishing this thing.’ So I was relieved when I saw it come back on the green.”
Scheffler, the reigning PGA and British Open champion, also birdied, splashing out of a left-front bunker to four feet and then converting to finish off a 7-under 63, two strokes behind leader Russell Henley. It was his lowest career round at East Lake.
McIlroy finished with a 66. Undoubtedly, he was equally happy just to have finished at all.
That turned out to be especially important with tee times moved up more than three hours and beginning at 8 a.m. Friday due to more expected afternoon storms.
