Wyndham Championship Day 1: Adam Scott Did Exactly What He Needed to Do

The Wyndham Championship marks the last regular season PGA Tour event before the FedEx Cup playoffs and that means one thing: bubble drama. 

This year on the PGA Tour, players must finish inside the FedEx Cup top 70 (rather than the top 125) to earn a spot at the first post-season playoff event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. The change means that several fan-favorites currently sit outside the bubble, hoping to take advantage of the Wyndham Championship for one last chance to improve their standing. 

One of those players is 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott. 

Scott came into the week at Sedgefield Country Club ranked No. 81 in the standings. According to projections, the Australian needs at least a two-way tie for 9th place to make next week’s playoff event. 

The stakes are high for Scott this week. Not only is he at risk of missing the playoffs, but Scott could also see the end of a 16-year streak. Since the postseason's inception in 2007, Scott has qualified every year. Matt Kuchar is the only other player who has matched that feat. 

But on Thursday at the Wyndham, no one would have guessed Scott was playing so free and easy with that statistic hovering over his shoulder. 

The 43-year-old posted a 5-under 65 to take an early clubhouse lead, putting himself in prime position in Greensboro. 

“I feel like when I come out to play golf, I'm there to give it my best shot and if I make it, I make it, and if I don't, I don't,” Scott said. “I've had a lot of years having a go at the FedExCup Playoffs and all these kind of things come to an end at some point. But for sure, I mean, I want to win this tournament and if I do that, I can have a really good run right through to East Lake, I believe.”

Scott made seven birdies and just two bogeys, including one on his final hole, and he said that his putting was the key. 

“I just generally think putting is the most consistent and best area of my game and has been for a while. I enjoy putting on greens with a lot of slope. I felt like I got my eye in early on a couple putts today and was confident all day,” Scott said. 

Justin Thomas, Shane Lowry and Joel Dahmen also sit outside the playoff bubble, but none came close to posting a round like Scott’s. 

Thomas and Dahmen carded even-par rounds of 70, while Lowry turned in a steady 2-under 68.