Adam Scott kept himself in contention for the $US15 million Fedex Cup bonus in the first round of the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta today.
Scott began the day at three-under par through the PGA Tour’s new format for the concluding tournament of the season, and shot a two-under par 68 to sit tied-11th after the opening round.
The Australian is at five-under overall, five shots from the lead held by world No. 1 Brooks Koepka and fellow-Americans Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele at 10-under.
Scott had a mercurial day that began with a lovely three-metre birdie putt that rattled in at the first. He made two double bogeys – one from the water at the par-four eighth and another from deep rough beside the par-three 11th hole – but also pumped in six birdies, finishing with a nice four at the par-five 18th from close range.
Scott won the Tour Championship in 2006 before it was part of the tour’s Fedex Cup points race.
No Australian has won the Fedex Cup in its 12 years.
Marc Leishman, the other Australian to make the 30-man field in Atlanta, shot a one-over par 71 and is tied-23rd overall.