The top five players in the play-off standings coming into the US$8.5 million season finale can each claim the bonus with a victory.
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World number one Jason Day withdraws with a back injury as Rory McIlroy remains in contention for $10million prize.
The world number two, who has also won the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and the BMW Championship in recent months, will also be crowned FedExCup champion if he secures overall glory at East Lake Golf Club, and he has put his impressive recent form down to hard work.
Dustin Johnson is among three tied for the lead after the opening round of the Tour Championship as the big names started well. Watch highlights of Hideki Matsuyama’s 1st round at the Tour Championship.
The 42-year-old Ridings was 52nd on the Web.com Tour regular-season money list and entered the third of four series events 36th in the race for 25 PGA Tour cards with $9,493.
As the leader in the FedEx Cup Johnson is assured of winning the $10 million if he wins this week.
Day continued to feel occasional twinges of the back pain that forced him to pull out of the previous playoff event, the BMW Championship, after three rounds.
“Today I drove it a little better and my iron game was back to normal and I’ve been putting very well”.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – South Korea’s Whee Kim shot a 6-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the Web.com Tour Finals’ Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship. “I feel if I play really solid golf here – and it doesn’t have to be ideal golf – I can shoot 8 under on this golf course”.
“I thought I played great”, the American left-hander said.
Casey made a 30-foot eagle putt at the par-five 18th for two-under 68, while Scott finished poorly with two late bogeys for a 69 and Reed struggled to a 73.
I feel that if I play solidly – and it does not have to be ideal – I could play a round of 8-under.
The 2015 PGA Championship victor entered the Tour Championship fourth in the FedEx Cup standings behind Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Adam Scott.
McIlroy rode a rollercoaster all day, carding seven birdies but also a bogey and two double bogeys.
“You never think it’s going to happen and when it does you don’t quite quantify it”, Snedeker said.
“He’s kind of figured out the way he’s supposed to play golf now”, Brandt Snedeker.
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After another shot left him off the green he picked up the ball and started walking into the clubhouse, leaving the premises in haste.
