PGA Tour Championship: South Korea’s Sungjae Im stays in hunt as Scottie Scheffler leads
- 3-under 67 in rain in Atlanta moves Im up to tied-6th in the staggered-start tournament based on FedExCup rankings
- Im is making his fourth successive appearance at the Tour Championship as Asia seeks its first FedExCup champion
South Korean star Sungjae Im remained unfazed after leader Scottie Scheffler charged ahead following the first round of the Tour Championship, the FedExCup Playoffs finale.
Im scrambled to a three-under 67 on a rainy day at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta to move up to tied sixth position on seven under, after beginning the week on four under in the staggered-start tournament based on players’ positions on the FedExCup rankings.
World No 1 Scheffler, who entered the final week as the top seed following four victories this season, put a firm grip on the PGA Tour’s ultimate prize following a stellar 65 which included an eagle on the sixth hole and three closing birdies as he chases a first FedExCup win.
Starting the week on 10 under, the 26-year-old Scheffler on Thursday extended his starting two-shot advantage to five over Xander Schauffele (66), with US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick (64) lying a further stroke back.
“I still have three rounds to go, so each day means a lot,” said Im. “I need to focus on each shot. I’m not trying to focus on the leader nor the stroke difference but only with my own game.”
The two-time tour winner trails Scheffler by eight with three rounds to play.