Australian Min Woo Lee fired a stunning, course-record-equalling 8-under 62 to seize a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on 28 August. Indian-American Akshay Bhatia, the sole golfer of Indian origin in the elite 30-player field, posted a composed 5-under 65 to sit tied fifth — just three shots off the pace.

Bhatia's Steady Opening Round

Akshay Bhatia, 24, made the most of softened conditions at East Lake, carding seven birdies against two bogeys for his 65. The Hero-backed golfer got his scoring started with birdies on the 5th and 6th holes, added back-to-back gains on the 11th and 12th, and closed emphatically with birdies on the 16th and 17th. A single bogey on each nine was all that prevented an even more eye-catching card.

Bhatia had arrived at East Lake ranked 15th in the FedExCup standings following a tied-12th finish at the BMW Championship the previous week. He retained his place among the top 30 qualifiers for the season finale and now has three rounds remaining to mount a serious charge at the FedExCup title.

Lee's Record-Matching Masterclass

Min Woo Lee, competing in the Tour Championship for the first time, delivered one of the rounds of the season — an eight-birdie, bogey-free 62 that matched both the course record at East Lake and the lowest round of his PGA TOUR career, a mark he had first set at The American Express earlier this season.

Lee had entered the week ranked 21st in the FedExCup standings and, by his own admission, was carrying a confidence deficit after two difficult weeks. There was no trace of that uncertainty on Thursday: he converted four of his eight birdies from beyond 10 feet and capped the round with a birdie on the par-five 18th. The Australian has recorded four top-10 finishes from 19 starts this season, including runner-up results at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Scottish Open.

The Chasing Pack

Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, and Chris Gotterup were tied second at 6-under 64. Hovland, the 2023 FedExCup champion, produced a standout putting display that included conversions from beyond 141 feet. Morikawa also enjoyed a productive day on the greens, while Gotterup completed his round without a single bogey.

World number one Scottie Scheffler — who had been hampered by hand, foot and mouth disease at the BMW Championship — returned to near full fitness to sign for a bogey-free 65, level with Bhatia in tied fifth. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood opened with a 66, and BMW Championship winner Wyndham Clark carded a 67 after birdieing two of his final three holes. Three-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy began his bid for a fourth title with a 68.

Unusual Scoring Conditions and a Withdrawal

Pre-round rain softened the East Lake greens considerably, producing historically low scoring: all 29 players who completed the opening round finished at even par or better. The field was reduced when 2025 US Open champion J.J. Spaun withdrew after just five holes due to a shoulder injury.

With three rounds remaining, Lee holds a commanding early advantage, but the density of world-class names within striking distance — including Scheffler, Bhatia, and Hovland — ensures the FedExCup finale is far from settled.