Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, Keegan Bradley share lead at TOUR Championship

Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, and Keegan Bradley are tied for the lead after the first round of the TOUR Championship. Collin Morikawa made an impressive comeback, starting the tournament nine shots behind but managed to close with three consecutive birdies for a 9-under 61. Keegan Bradley carded a 63, while Viktor Hovland shot a 68. All three players ended the day at 10-under par.

Scottie Scheffler, the top-seeded player who started with a 10-under score, faced a frustrating round with several three-putts and a triple-bogey on the par-3 15th. Despite his struggles, Scheffler finished the day at 9-under, just one shot behind the leaders.

The staggered start, based on FedExCup standings, created a tight leaderboard with 16 players separated by four shots within the 30-man field. Rory McIlroy, who dealt with back spasms leading up to the tournament, shot a 70 and is three shots behind the leaders.

Morikawa's impressive iron play and control over his shots played a significant role in his successful round. Bradley, a two-time winner this season, is new to the format but found himself at 6 under after three consecutive birdies on the front nine.

While Bradley is trying to focus on his score and not think about the Ryder Cup, he acknowledges the excitement and anticipation surrounding the event. He aims to perform well in the tournament, as the Ryder Cup captain's picks are just around the corner.

With a tightly contested leaderboard and just one round played, the TOUR Championship promises an exciting competition as players vie for the $18 million FedExCup prize.