Scottie Scheffler carded a first-round 66 at the St Jude Championship to get his FedEx Cup playoff campaign off to a solid start.
The world number one made four birdies on the front nine before shooting level par on the back and sits just two shots back of leader Chris Kirk.
Scheffler’s comments on the Tour Championship angered fans on Thursday, but the two-time Masters champion looked comfortable in the playoff environment and is on course to contend once more this week.
The American’s round, however, wasn’t without drama. Scheffler was visibly angry after making an error on the 13th hole, and the 28-year-old has explained why he let his emotions get the better of him.
Scottie Scheffler shows emotions in the bunker at the St Jude Championship
After finding the fairway bunker with his tee shot, Scheffler proceeded to find the sand once more with his approach. The American would then produce a heavy-handed chip shot, leading to his only dropped shot of the day.
“It was a pretty easy shot. It was just a horrible shot,” Scheffler explained in his post-round press conference.
“It was a lack of focus type of moment. I felt like I did a good job getting myself into position to where I thought I was going to be an easy par and then I just hit an awful shot. I cost myself one there.”
Scheffler would go on to pick up a shot three holes later on the par-five 16th.
Scottie Scheffler part of a stacked leaderboard in Memphis
Unsurprisingly, a stacked leaderboard has already emerged at TPC Southwind. Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose are both on the same number as Scheffler, along with Xander Schauffele.
The Open winner is the world number one’s nearest challenger in the race for the FedEx Cup and Scheffler hopes the changes to East Lake impact Schauffele’s impressive Tour Championship record.
Billy Horschel, Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa sit two shots further back on two under.
Patrick Cantlay, who missed out in a playoff last year, produced a surprise two-over 72 and sat near the foot of the leaderboard.
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