Why Scottie Scheffler was delighted to see Rory McIlroy's skulled bunker shot hit the stands

Scottie Scheffler admits he was delighted to see Rory McIlroy's skulled bunker shot bounce off the grandstand and back onto the 18th green because play was moments away from being suspended.

McIlroy thinned his greenside bunker shot over the back of the green but his ball bounced off the top of the stand and to some 25 feet away for birdie.

The Northern Irishman duly tucked away the birdie putt to open with a 4-under 66 at the 30-man Tour Championship, which determines the winner of the season-long FedEx Cup. 

McIlroy sits five shots off the early pace currently set by Russell Henley, who scorched his home Georgia turf in a blistering 9-under 61. 

Scheffler got up and down from the front greenside bunker on 18 for a superb 7-under 63. 

World No.1 Scheffler is looking to become the first player in PGA Tour history to sucessfully defend the FedEx Cup.

World No.2 and three-time FedEx Cup holder McIlroy is trying to win the season-long race for a record fourth time. 

After the first round, Scheffler revealed his relief to reporters at seeing McIlroy's ball clatter into the stands. 

Scheffler did not want to come back early doors on Friday just to convert a short putt. 

"I have never rooted so hard for somebody's ball to come back, outside of my partner in a team event," said Scheffler.

"Because we're walking to 18 and Bones told us they were going to blow at any second, so I'm watching his ball fly towards the grandstand.

"I'm like, oh, my gosh, we've got no way of finishing this thing, so I was relieved when I saw it come back on the green."

As soon as Scheffler tapped in for his birdie from four feet on 18, the claxon blew.

But thankfully they were the final group on the course.

Friday's second round tee times at the Tour Championship have been brought forward by PGA Tour officials due to inclement weather. 

McIlroy was quick to joke about his fortunate break on 18 after the round. 

"Got a little thin, came out a little faster than obviously I wanted it to, but at that point you're just hoping that something is going to happen -- all the TIO lovers are going to love that one on Twitter tonight." 

In case you missed it, here's the shot: