Scottie Scheffler has each purpose to dislike the FedEx Cup Playoffs format after what has occurred over the previous two years.
In each 2022 and 2023, Scheffler arrived at East Lake because the top-ranked participant within the FedEx Cup standings, that means he held a two-shot lead over the second-ranked participant at 10-under par at first of the match. However he didn’t win the FedEx Cup on both event. The Tour Championship employs a ‘Beginning Strokes Format,’ which doles out strokes based mostly on a participant’s efficiency all through the season. But, the most effective participant solely receives a two-shot benefit going into the ultimate 72 holes.
As such, Scheffler will not be a fan.
“I believe it’s foolish,” Scheffler mentioned.
“You may’t name it a season-long race and have it come down to at least one match.”
Scheffler at the moment has an astronomical lead within the FedEx Cup standings over Xander Schauffele, the second-ranked participant within the season-long race. Schauffele, who has had a profession 12 months himself, is sort of 2,000 factors behind Scheffler, who has gained six occasions this season. Rory McIlroy, in the meantime, is about 1,500 factors behind Schauffele in third place—and three,500 behind Scheffler, whereas Collin Morikawa, the fourth-ranked participant, is barely 100 factors behind McIlroy—proof that Scheffler and Schauffele are in a tier of their very own.
However Scheffler is in a complete totally different environment due to his wins at Bay Hill, TPC Sawgrass, Augusta Nationwide, Harbour City, Muirfield Village, and most just lately, TPC River Highlands. Oh, and he gained the gold medal in Paris, too, however that’s not an official PGA Tour occasion. Scheffler additionally has 14 top-10s of the 16 occasions he has performed.
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He has been the most effective participant this season, regardless that Schauffele gained a pair of majors at Valhalla and Royal Troon.
“I attempt to not suppose an excessive amount of in regards to the outcomes at tournaments, and I’m not going to look again on my season actually any otherwise if I don’t win East Lake,” Scheffler mentioned.
“I’m going to indicate up there and do my greatest. I believe I’ve been No. 1 the final two years going into the match. Went in 2022 having a extremely nice probability to win and wasn’t capable of pull it off, and final 12 months actually simply performed poorly just about all the week.”
Scheffler additionally added gas to his argument with a wonderful hypothetical—one that would actually transpire since he sustained a neck damage throughout The Gamers Championship in March.
“Hypothetically, we get to East Lake, and my neck flares up, and it doesn’t heal the best way it did at The Gamers; I end thirtieth within the FedExCup as a result of I needed to withdraw from the final match. Is that actually the season-long race? No,” Scheffler mentioned.
“I don’t actually contemplate it the season-long race like I believe the best way it’s known as. However you’ve obtained to determine a solution to strike a stability between it being a very good TV product and it nonetheless being a season-long race. Proper now, I don’t know precisely how the scores are or something like that, however I do know for a truth you’ll be able to’t actually fairly name it the season-long race when it comes down to at least one stroke-play match on the identical golf course every year.”
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
