The first round PGA Tour’s (un)official pre-Christmas summer vacation — it’s 78°F in Albany — a.k.a, Hero World Challenge, ended with two U.S. Open champions breathing down each other’s necks. J.J. Spaun, the reigning U.S. Open winner, is leading the pack along with 2023 U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark and three others at 6-under.

One of those three is, of course, defending champion Scottie Scheffler , who wrapped up his Thursday with seven birdies and a lone bogey on the 18th. Scheffler, with a new driver in his bag, is aiming for a three-peat at the Bahamas. Nevertheless, when the dust settled on the first round, three shots from three players stood out the most.

Akshay Bhatia’s bunker hole-out

Most players change caddies, hoping for a change of fortune on the greens. Most players me

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