The 2025 Tour Championship teed off Thursday morning, with 30 of the world’s best golfers playing East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga. While World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler entered as the heavy favorite, it was Collin Morikawa who came out on fire.

Morikawa signed for a 6-under 64, and he was tied for the lead when he finished his round. (Russell Henley ended up carding a 9-under 61, while Scheffler finished his round with birdies on two of his last three holes for a 7-under 63.)

After the Tour Championship, all eyes in the golf world will turn to Bethpage Black, host venue of the 2025 Ryder Cup. Unlike 2023, Morikawa did not earn an automatic berth onto Team USA.

He is going to have to rely on captain Keegan Bradley to select him with one of his six captain’s picks.

Morikawa sits eighth in the Ryder Cup rankings, just behind Justin Thomas. The top six (Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, JJ Spaun, Russell Henley, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau) locked up the automatic berths.

Morikawa has not won on the PGA Tour since the 2023 ZOZO Championship. But he has come painfully close several times.

This year, the Southern California native has 11 top 25’s, four top 10’s and two runner-up finishes in 18 starts. But were he to win his first Tour Championship, that would essentially land him a spot on Team USA.

He detailed his mindset entering the week following his round.

“You’re never comfortable, right? I don’t think you’re ever comfortable until you get that call and you’re on the team,” Morikawa said.

“But look — at the end of the day, this is a different type of event. I would say after qualifying, it’s been two years’ work, and the Ryder Cup is still a month away.”

Morikawa has made it to the Ryder Cup twice in his career. He took the golf world by storm at Whistling Straits in 2021, going 3-0-1. However, he struggled in Rome, finishing 1-3 that week.

Nevertheless, his experience puts him on the right side of the equation if he continues to play this well through Sunday.

“Look, I hope I’ve done enough. We’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “But I think, yeah, my focus right now is to try and go out and win this golf tournament. I think if I do that, then hopefully that’s enough, and we’ll see how everything plays out.”

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