World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler arrived at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, this week with a freshly won Olympic gold medal around his neck.
But as the PGA Tour’s three-event playoff begins Thursday at FedEx St. Jude Championship, Scheffler was asked about the trophy he has held so far in what has been an impressive career: the FedEx Cup.
Based on his performance throughout the season, Scheffler has started each of the last two Tour Championships at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta at 10 under at the start, at least two shots better than anyone else.
In 2022, Scheffler blew a six-stroke lead by shooting a 3-over 73 in the final round and losing to Rory McIlroy by one. Last year, Scheffler started 10 under and went just 1 under over 72 holes on his own. He is tied for sixth at 11 under, 16 strokes behind winner Viktor Hovland.
Not surprisingly, Scheffler, a two-time Masters champion, dislikes the tour’s playoff format.
“I talked about it a couple of years ago, I think it’s stupid,” Scheffler said Wednesday during a news conference at TPC Southwind. “You can’t call it a season-long race and boil it down to one race.
“Thinking, we get to East Lake and my neck is burning and it’s not healing the way it did at the Players. I finish 30th in the FedEx Cup because I had to pull out of the last tournament? Is that really a season-long race? No, it is.”
McIlroy, a record three-time FedEx Cup winner, likes the format because it gives everyone a chance to try to catch Scheffler over the next three weeks.
With six victories, including four of the eight signature FedEx Cup high-scoring events, Scheffler has 5,993 points. He has almost 2,000 more points than Xander Schauffele (4,057) and more than twice as many points as McIlroy (2,545).
“I like this format because if it wasn’t for this way, none of us would have had a chance to face Scottie because he is so far ahead,” said McIlroy. “So I really like this format.”
McIlroy admits that the Tour Championship is probably not the right way to determine the champion of the tour season. But he says it’s probably the best way to make the season-ending tournament attractive to fans.
“I think it makes the Tour Championship a lot more fun for the consumers,” McIlroy said. “Is it the best reflection of who has been the best player of the year? Maybe not. But I think right now we’re not completely right; we’re focused on entertainment and trying to put on the best product we can. It’s possible.”
There will be two FedEx Cup playoff events played before the Tour Championship. Scheffler has played well almost everywhere over the past three seasons, but his results haven’t been great at TPC Southwind.
Scheffler has no top-10 finishes in six starts. He missed the cut in 2022 and had 31 tackles for 6 under last season.
“It’s hard for me to remember the last few years,” Scheffler said. “The scores are usually low here, and I’ve never shot that low. Why that means, some years I haven’t hit it well, some years I haven’t putt well. Like I said, I feel like it’s good. A golf course that should suit me. It’s not too wide. You have to hit good shots on the Bermuda greens. .
The top 50 golfers in FedEx Cup points after the FedEx St. Jude will advance to next week’s BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado. The first place to visit that course since 2006.
The top 30 golfers after the first two legs of the FedEx Cup playoffs will compete in the Tour Championship, where Scheffler is projected to resume the lead.
“It’s a fun tournament,” Scheffler said. “I don’t look at it as a season-long race as I think it’s called. But you have to find a balance between being a good TV product and still taking the whole season. race.
“Right now, I don’t know exactly what the ratings are or anything like that, but I do know that you can’t really call it a season race when it comes down to one stroke competition on the same golf course year after year.”
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