Hot Henley rules East Lake

Scheffler two behind after first-round 63

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Russell Henley rode a hot putter to a nine-under par 61 and a twoshot lead over top-ranked Scottie Scheffler on Thursday at the US PGA Tour Championship, where a star-studded field is chasing a $10 million top prize.

Henley, the world No.4 who captured his fifth PGA title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, broke free atop a crowded leaderboard with three birdies to close his round at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia.

The American had made a strong start with two birdies and an eagle on the front nine, adding back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13 before he drained a 42-foot birdie at 16 to launch his closing burst.

He added a 34-foot birdie at 17 and got up and down from a greenside bunker for birdie at the par-five 18th.

His 207 total feet of putts made included three from beyond 30 feet.