Event of the Day: PGA Tour Championship Day 1
Our event of the day is the first day of the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. After a season long points race and three playoff events, the FedEX Cup champion will be decided over the next four days. Following the Northern Trust, the Dell Technologies Championship and the BMW Championship, the top 125 players in the world have been whittled down to just 30. With $10 million up for grabs for the winner, the biggest jackpot in golf, there is certainly everything to play for. American Bryson DeChambeau is favourite going into the event. He currently leads the FedEX Cup standings on 5,789 points. This was partially down to an excellent two-shot win at the Dell Technologies Championship. New world number one Justin Rose is second on 4,391 points.
This is all the more impressive considering the Englishman has only competed in 17 events this season, in comparison to DeChambeau’s 25 and Tony Finau, currently in third, who has played in 27. Reigning champion Justin Thomas sits in fifth position, 2,810 points off the lead. No man has ever won consecutive FedEX Cups. Tiger Woods is the only golfer to lift the trophy on more than one occasion. Woods himself is 20th in the standings. Victory in Atlanta would be a sublime comeback from the American great. Those in the top five - Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose, Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas – know that a win over the next four days will hand them the FedEX Cup. If they slip up, a pool of world class golfing talents are waiting in the wings. With so much to play for, we can look forward to a thrilling four days of golf.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NFL fixture between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets at the FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns are without an NFL win since 2016, despite coming close against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. The Jets were outstanding in Week 1, but came unstuck against the Dolphins in Week 2. Elsewhere in the States, two giants of MLB go head to head at the Yankee Stadium, where the New York Yankees play the Boston Red Sox. Europa League football kicks off at Estádio José Alvalade, as Sporting Lisbon host Qarabağ FK. Additional sporting action in Portugal comes from the Algarve, where the European Tour stops off for the Portugal Masters at Oceanico Victoria. In the County Championship, second place Somerset host Surrey, who have already been crowned champions but will aim to remain unbeaten. A multitude of top-class tennis takes place across the world: in Metz the Moselle Open continues, and it’s the fourth day of action at the St Petersburg Open on the ATP World Tour. Meanwhile on the WTA World Tour, it’s Day 4 of the Guangzhou, Korea and Toray Pan Pacific Opens.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by East Lake Golf Club; PGA Tour