Stenson takes edge at Tour Championship in search of 2nd FedEx Cup
Henrik Stenson wouldn’t mind being the first FedEx Cup champion to earn the season-long trophy and its $10 million prize without the benefit of a single win during the PGA Tour season.
However, if the Swede keeps playing like he did on Thursday in Round 1 of the Tour Championship, he’ll leave Atlanta on Sunday twice a winner.
Stenson shot 7-under 63 at East Lake Golf Club in the first round of the finale of the FedEx Cup playoffs, taking a two-stroke edge over Englishman Paul Casey heading into the second round. Ranked fourth in the FedEx Cup standings coming into the Tour Championship, Stenson will win the FedEx Cup if he wins this week’s season-ending tournament.
The 2013 FedEx Cup champion got off to a hot start, making three birdies to open the round before wrapping the front nine with an eagle 3 at the par-5 ninth to shoot 6-under 29. Stenson was 7 under through 10 holes, putting the field on alert that a sub-60 round was possible. However, Stenson played in even par the rest of the way, including his lone bogey of the day at the 17th hole.
“Unfortunately, dropped one coming in, but that’s not going to spoil the positive vibes and the great round I played,” Stenson said.
The 39-year-old doesn’t have to win the Tour Championship to win the FedEx Cup. He could finish inside the top three and still take the FedEx Cup. However, he’d need help from the three players in front of him in the standings coming into this week. On Thursday, he got it. No. 1 Jason Day and No. 3 Rickie Fowler shot 1-under 69, while No. 2 Jordan Spieth shot 68.
Bubba Watson, ranked fifth coming into the week, can also win the FedEx Cup with a Tour Championship. He opened with even-par 70.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
