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Scott In Mix, Schauffele Leads Tour C'ship

ADAM SCOTT Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Adam Scott has kept himself within striking distance of the $US15-million FedEx Cup title with a gutsy first round at the Tour Championship.

Scott weathered two double-bogeys to post a two-under-par 68 and his five-under total leaves him just five shots off the pace, with day one play still underway.

American young gun Xander Schauffele leads the pack with a 64 at the par-70 East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia moving him to 10 under, due to the Tour Championship's new-look format.

Superstars Rory McIlroy (66), world No.1 Brooks Koepka and overnight FedEx leader Justin Thomas sit a shot behind Schauffele at nine under.

Scott's fellow Australian, Marc Leishman, was struggling before draining a 15-foot eagle putt on the 18th to salvage a 71 which dropped him one stroke to even par.

HOW THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP'S NEW FORMAT WORKS

* FedEx Cup leader Thomas started round one with a 10-under-par score, two strokes ahead of second place.

* Scores regressed down the 30-player leaderboard until 26th through 30th start at even par.

* After round one, players' totals are adjusted to par based on their scores