- In his first career start at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, Henrik Stenson carded a 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Adam Scott after the first round. With each player entering the week ranked Nos. 2 & 3, respectively in the FedExCup, a victory on Sunday will guarantee a FedExCup title
- Stenson has made the cut in 15 of 17 previous starts this season, with five top-3 finishes (1-Deutsche Bank Championship, 2-Open Championship, T2-Shell Houston Open, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, 3-PGA Championship).
- Adam Scott is seeking to join Vijay Singh (2008) as the only players to win The Barclays and FedExCup in the same season.
- Scott has not missed a cut in 15 previous starts this season, with victories at the Masters and The Barclays. He also owns T3 finishes at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship and The Open Championship.
- Tiger Woods had a rough start, opening with a 3-over 73, equaling his score in round two a year ago. The last time he recorded a higher score at East Lake was in 1998 (R2-76).
- Woods failed to make a birdie Thursday for the first time in a round since the first round at the 2010 U.S. Open.
Brandt Snedeker opened with a 1-under 69 in his bid to become the first back-to-back winner of the FedExCup. He holds the distinction as the first FedExCup winner to advance to East Lake the year after winning the FedExCup. Snedeker entered the week No. 10 in the FedExCup and is now projected No. 11.
Zach Johnson, winner of last week’s BMW Championship, posted an opening-round 1-under 69. The 10-time PGA TOUR winner holds the East Lake Golf Club course record with a 10-under 60 in the third round in 2007 (finished T2). Johnson entered the week No. 4 in the FedExCup and is currently projected No. 5. The only player who has won the BMW Championship and the FedExCup in the same season is Tiger Woods (2007 and 2009).
Jordan Spieth, the youngest participant in the history of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, opened Thursday with a 2-under 68. Having entered the week No. 13 in the FedExCup standings, he is currently projected No. 12.
Sergio Garcia posted a 2-under 68 Thursday to sit T6, with four birdies. He is pledging $1,000 for every birdie and $2,000 for each eagle he makes through the FedExCup Playoffs to the local First Tee chapters at each respective event, with this week’s recipients the First Tee of Atlanta and the First Tee of East Lake. A week ago, he made 15 birdies and an eagle at the BMW Championship for a $17,000 donation to The First Tee of Greater Chicago, which combined with this week’s donations of $4,000, brings his total donations to $99,000.
Luke Donald is one of two players (Nick Watney) who played their way into the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola after beginning the BMW Championship outside the top 30 in the FedExCup standings. He opened Thursday with an even-par 70 in his seventh start at the TOUR Championship. Donald is no stranger to success at East Lake, with top-5 finishes in four of his last five starts (T3-2012, T3-2011, 2-2010, T5-2006).