As if the race to the FedEx Cup isn’t already dramatic enough, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm are gifting golf lovers a grandstand finish at the Tour Championship.
With the PGA Tour season drawing to a close this weekend at East Lake Golf Club, the new stroke allocations for the final event have certainly added some spice to the occasion and has by no means handed the FedEx Cup crown to Johnson.
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The American started Friday’s first round at the Tour Championship on 10 under par with Rahm, who went into the event second in the standings, two strokes behind on eight under.
Two tied at the top.@JonRahmpga‘s putter is hot right now.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/FEOfWFQcH2
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 4, 2020
But, by the end of the day’s play the pair were locked on 13 under par, sharing the lead by two shots over Justin Thomas.
Rahm, in particular, made his intensions clear from the outset and opened with a five-under-par 65 in a round that included six birdies and one bogey.
Johnson also did well to maintain consistency throughout his round as he concluded with a decent three-under 67.
Having won twice on Tour so far this year, Johnson started the week as one of the clear favourites after gathering some impressive form in recent weeks with the hope of claiming his maiden FedEx Cup title.
Rahm, though, showed last week that he is by no means going down without a fight. His victory at the BMW Championship has clearly given him the necessary confidence to fight it out till the very end when the final round finishes on Monday.
Thomas closed the day on 11 under par after gaining four strokes on his starting score and remains a big threat to the leaders.
Rory McIlroy, who on Thursday became a dad for the first time, also made a quick start by shooting a spectacular six-under-par 64 in his opening round.
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The Northern Irishman finished the day in fourth spot and on nine under for the event.
