Rory McIlroy fights back after 'worst possible start' at Tour Championship

Scottie Scheffler leads the way.

DIGGING IN: Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the third tee during the first round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

East Lake Golf Club on the outskirts of metro Atlanta and Royal Portrush on the North Atlantic will never be confused for one another. But they’ve both, however, delivered brutal blows to Rory McIlroy’s hopes.

Similar to his start in the 2019 Open Championship at Portrush, McIlroy began Thursday’s Tour Championship by hitting his opening drive out of bounds left. This misfire couldn’t be attributed to nerves but instead a short-lived torrential downpour of rain that coincided with his appointment at the first tee.