PGA Tour: Scottie Scheffler builds big lead over Xander Schauffele at season-ending Tour Championship

The world No 1 has already won six times on the PGA Tour this season and arrived at East Lake with a two-shot cushion over closest challenger Xander Schauffele, with Scheffler recovering from a bogey start to take early control of the tournament.

Scheffler fired seven birdies – including five in his last seven holes – to close a round-of-the-day 65 and jump to 16 under, making the 28-year-old the overwhelming favourite to win the season finale and claim the $25m jackpot.

Schauffele’s one-under 70 leaves him tied-second alongside Collin Morikawa, who started his back nine with six consecutive birdies, with Hideki Matsuyama and Keegan Bradley – the winners of the first two Playoff events – in the group sharing fourth on eight under.

How Scheffler set the pace at East Lake

Scheffler’s two-shot pre-tournament advantage temporarily disappeared at the par-four first, where he failed to get up and down from short of the green to save par and Schauffele holed an eight-foot birdie to move to nine under.