Scottie Scheffler’s Tour Championship win revealed two attention-grabbing issues about him.
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Welcome to the Monday End, the place school soccer is again! It’ll be good for golf followers to lastly get a break from rating controversies, sketchy sources of funding, Georgia on the heart of the universe and [checks notes] hmm, by no means thoughts. To the golf information…
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GOLF STUFF I LIKE
5 issues we discovered about Scottie Scheffler.
When you skipped Sunday’s motion on the Tour Championship, checked the ultimate rating and dismissed it as one other Scottie Scheffler beatdown, you’re not flawed, precisely. However you additionally missed out on a couple of revealing moments to cap off a surreal season.
Scheffler started the day with a five-shot lead. By the point he reached the fourth gap he had a seven-shot lead. Over the subsequent a number of holes, although, issues modified rapidly. Wayward drives left at 5 and seven led to bogeys, and by the point Scheffler took his stance in a greenside bunker on the drivable par-4 eighth his lead had shrunk to 4. Then Scheffler hit a chilly, onerous shank with that bunker shot, a surprising miss that despatched his ball skittering off the opposite facet of the inexperienced. (Take into account that Factor 1: World No. 1 can hit a imply bunker shank.) From there he shorted his chip shot and walked off with one other bogey, whereas taking part in accomplice Collin Morikawa made birdie to all of a sudden draw inside two.
Scheffler’s post-round shank clarification was attention-grabbing. “That precise particular bunker shot, for some motive I would like to determine why, however I shank it much more typically than I ought to once I’m on a facet slope like that,” he stated. (That’s Factor 2: these shanks apparently occur with some frequency.)
As for his in-round, on-course response? That was downright jaw-dropping. A hovering long-iron at No. 9 from 236 yards to 5 ft. Birdie. A towering wedge at No. 10 to 3 ft. Birdie. And a 15-footer for birdie at No. 11 that Scheffler walked in with hardly a response, capping off a three-hole stretch that screamed sufficient screwing round. Then got here the door-slamming eagle at No. 14, a reminder that Scheffler isn’t only a proficient golfer. He’s the world’s most proficient golfer — and he’s an absolute killer, too.
The 2024 model of Scheffler is totally different, and his 2024 season was totally different, and the tip of the 2024 season served to hammer that time residence. That’s Factor 3. Scheffler’s totally different than Viktor Hovland was a yr in the past, or Rory McIlroy a yr earlier than that, or Patrick Cantlay a yr earlier than that. This Scheffler is totally different than the Scheffler of these years, too — totally different than final yr and the yr earlier than, the place he additionally entered East Lake with the lead however left having surrendered it. As a substitute, when he received this time round it bolstered the concept that his season — the Gamers, the Masters, half the Signature Occasions, Olympic Gold, now the Tour Championship — was totally different than any PGA Tour season since one Tiger Woods performed a decade and a half in the past.
“Yeah, it’s nice,” Scheffler stated, requested to sum up his seven-win season. However then he paused. “Nonetheless don’t perceive why the Olympics doesn’t rely. That’s a bit bizarre to me. I feel that’s a part of the greed that goes on in your mind, is you say seven, I’m like, ‘I received eight.’ I received the Olympics in the midst of the yr, and for some motive it doesn’t rely as an official PGA Tour win. It counts the identical as — no offense to the Hero — nevertheless it counts the identical because the Hero World Problem within the grand scheme of issues.”
Who’s counting? Scheffler, clearly. Winner. Nonetheless a slight chip on his shoulder. That’s Factor 4.
We discovered one thing else, too, about the best way Scheffler thinks and the best way he cares. We’ll name this Factor 5, and it got here in an interview with Mike Tirico as he accepted the winner’s trophy and was requested about his season.
“It’s onerous to place into phrases what this yr has been like for me,” he stated. He thanked his spouse and his son, nevertheless it was telling the place his thoughts went subsequent.
“Actually, to the followers as nicely,” he stated. “After the stuff that occurred in Louisville I didn’t actually know precisely what was going to occur once I confirmed as much as the primary tee. However the reception I bought on the tee was one thing I’ll bear in mind for a very long time.”
The stuff that occurred in Louisville may very well be a very good album title however on this case refers to Scheffler’s weird arrest on the PGA Championship as a consequence of an unlucky miscommunication with an overzealous member of the Louisville P.D. In actual time Scheffler appeared to take the episode in stride and and within the weeks that adopted he sidestepped questions on the topic, citing ongoing authorized proceedings. However this recall at season’s finish was a window into Scheffler’s thoughts, with one clear conclusion: that was a very large deal.
In actual time it was as simple because it was for the web to fireside off jokes about Scheffler’s orange-jumpsuited mugshot, all in good enjoyable. However transport your self to Scheffler’s footwear and the whole episode was jarring. It was a reminder that issues can go flawed, even for probably the most proficient amongst us, and that even should you spend your life making an attempt to deal with folks the best manner, a stranger on a darkish, wet morning received’t know that. I’m positive Scheffler had by no means actually imagined himself because the type of one that’d find yourself in a jail cell. As soon as he’d turn out to be that particular person, maybe his worldview shifted only a bit.
The recall to Tirico appeared like an admission of precisely that. That when Scheffler had made it again to Valhalla to play golf that day, he nervous what folks would possibly suppose. For a man who’d by no means been accused of being something however somewhat boring, that was new. However the public took his facet. They’re nonetheless on his facet. He’s clearly grateful.
In all we discovered that Scheffler post-shank remains to be the very best participant on the planet. We discovered that Scheffler’s Louisville episode left an actual impression. Mixed, we discovered that Scheffler is human. Simply actually, actually good with a long-iron.
Studying new issues about Scottie Scheffler, eight wins later: that’s golf stuff I like.
WINNERS
Who received the week?
Scottie Scheffler received the Tour Championship and its $25 million first prize. Good week.
Haeran Ryu rebounded from a Saturday 78 with a Sunday 64 to chase down Jin Younger Ko — after which beat her on the primary additional gap to win the inaugural FM Championship at TPC Boston.
Niklas Norgaard fulfilled a lifelong dream by capturing his maiden win on the DP World Tour at age 32. The Danish professional overcame a viral chipping meltdown at No. 15 to win the Betfred British Masters by two.
One other Dane, Fredrik Kjettrup, received for the third time on the PGA Tour Americas, incomes him assured promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour for 2025.
And Group Nice Britain and Eire received their first Curtis Cup since 2016 by a single level in a dramatic end at Sunningdale Golf Membership.
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NOT-WINNERS
An excellent yr for many, however…
Rory McIlroy performed nicely however by no means contended on the Tour Championship, a consequence that was in some methods becoming for a season that was strong however, by his lofty requirements, nonetheless disappointing. He described feeling like a “distant third” on the planet behind Scheffler and Xander Schauffele and, although he nonetheless has 5 begins left this fall to make 27 for the yr, plans to chop again his schedule for 2025.
“I’m often type of like a 22 [start] type of particular person. However once more, that was once I was type of in my 20s and didn’t have the duties that I do now,” he stated. “I’m going to attempt to minimize it again to love 18 or 20 a yr going ahead, I feel.”
Whether or not that’s simply end-of-season fatigue speaking stays to be seen; within the meantime we’ll stay up for McIlroy on the Horizon Irish Open on the legendary Royal County Down in simply two weeks’ time.
SHORT HITTERS
5 professionals (apart from Scottie) who left the Tour Championship blissful.
Collin Morikawa shot the bottom 72-hole rating within the subject, incomes a win on the “pretend leaderboard.” He completed second on the adjusted leaderboard, incomes $12 million. He moved again as much as No. 4 on the planet and capped off a terrific season. “I wanted so much decrease and I knew that. However I fought onerous, and all week, actually, that’s type of the golf I missed taking part in,” he stated. “Hopefully we are able to use this as a stepping stone into subsequent yr.”
Sahith Theegala shot the second-lowest 72-hole rating within the subject. He additionally known as a penalty on himself mid-round Saturday, incomes the respect of {the golfing} public — after which rebounded with seven birdies on the again 9 and eight extra in Sunday’s spherical to complete solo third.
Russell Henley completed higher than anybody, making birdie at No. 17 after which pitching in for eagle from 35 yards out at No. 18 to complete off a spherical of 9-under 62 that bought him into T4 and the most important payday — $4.83 mil — of his profession. He additionally all however assured a spot on the Presidents Cup staff within the course of. “Clearly a dream of mine, why I work so onerous is to make one among these groups. Hopefully it really works out,” he stated.
Adam Scott completed robust, too; simply final week he needed to play his manner into the Tour Championship and took full benefit as soon as he bought right here, capturing 66-67-68-67 to complete T4 alongside Henley. “Impulsively I really feel like I’m a very good participant once more,” he stated post-round.
And Justin Thomas, who arrived at No. 30, the final man within the subject, put collectively a strong case for the U.S. Presidents Cup staff’s remaining captain’s decide when he made eight birdies in a Sunday 65 to show within the seventh-best rating of the week. “Actually hope I get an opportunity at Presidents Cup as a result of I really feel like — it was enjoyable. These final couple days and this week I performed actually, rather well. It was good to have a very good spherical to complete off the season immediately.”
ONE DUMB GRAPHIC
Scottie Scheffler, the franchise.
ONE SWING THOUGHT
The place Scottie beats Xander.
World No. 2 Xander Schauffele was requested what he’d wish to borrow from No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
“After I’m driving it nicely, I really feel like I can get him, however total I’d say he’s in all probability bought me in driving,” Schauffele stated. “Simply his accuracy is de facto good when he wants to select it up or drop the pace somewhat bit simply to hit extra fairways.”
He’s proper. Scheffler led the Tour Championship in strokes gained off the tee and he’s No. 3 on the season in that class. Schauffele’s no slouch off the tee at No. 10 for the season however was twenty second at East Lake, which contributed to him falling out of competition. Total there’s a motive these guys are 1-2 on the planet — they’re 1-2 in strokes gained from tee to inexperienced. Scheffler simply occurs to be No. 1 by fairly a bit.
ONE BIG QUESTION
Ought to we be within the American Southeast in August?
I spent a couple of days at East Lake this week and left feeling … sweaty. I loved the modifications to the golf course, I just like the clubhouse, the lake is cool, 18 is a memorable finisher and there have been loads of big-time moments on these historic fairways, however particularly through the apply rounds I discovered 95 and humid to be so oppressive that it type of sucked the power out of the place. Judging by participant suggestions, Memphis was even worse — a golf course gamers like however contested in triple-digit warmth indexes.
Alternatively, the BMW Championship at Citadel Pines earned rave opinions. I used to be questioning if gamers could be complaining a few playoff occasion at elevation however they appeared to seek out the course setup, fan turnout and common event operation to be top-notch. The climate didn’t damage, both.
There are important sponsor pursuits preserving the Tour’s playoff occasions in Atlanta and Memphis. And though these are each beautiful locations to play golf within the spring, August appears to have residents craving for air-con. In the meantime, in different big-time sports activities markets — suppose New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, or West Coast choices like Seattle (Chambers Bay?), the Bay Space (even Pebble Seashore?) there appears to be an urge for food for extra however no golf coming. This can be a spot for questions, not full options, so I’ll depart it right here: Why not make the FedEx St. Jude a big-time spring occasion, work East Lake into the Masters lead-up and get artistic in some big-time markets come playoff time?
ONE THING TO WATCH
Norgaard’s chip-choppy end.
I discussed above that Danish 32-year-old Niklas Norgaard suffered some chipping woes en path to victory. However what did that appear to be? Reinforcing Scheffler’s message from earlier, it’s price a watch simply to keep in mind that although the professionals undoubtedly aren’t identical to us, they’re not excellent both.
“I used to be nervous, however not that nervous. That was purely simply chipping badly,” stated Norgaard after making double bogey.
NEWS FROM SEATTLE
Monday End HQ.
It’s back-to-school week right here, which suggests it’s golf tryout season, too. A few of you could have already been by way of that course of this summer time — or maybe your children have. Good luck, gang. Go low. Have enjoyable. Take in the nice and cozy climate and lengthy afternoons whereas we’ve nonetheless bought ’em. And bear in mind, should you hit a shank, you would possibly simply be in your solution to World No. 1.
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Dylan Dethier welcomes your feedback at dylan_dethier@golf.com.
