Scottie Scheffler has each cause 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 event. 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 is just not 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 event.”
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 almost 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 lately, TPC River Highlands. Oh, and he gained the gold medal in Paris, too, however that isn’t an official PGA Tour occasion. Scheffler additionally has 14 top-10s of the 16 occasions he has performed.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25572921/2166770981.jpg)
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 assume an excessive amount of in regards to the outcomes at tournaments, and I’m not going to look again on my season actually any in another way if I don’t win East Lake,” Scheffler mentioned.
“I’m going to point out up there and do my greatest. I believe I’ve been No. 1 the final two years going into the event. Went in 2022 having a very nice likelihood to win and wasn’t in a position to pull it off, and final 12 months actually simply performed poorly just about the complete week.”
Scheffler additionally added gas to his argument with a wonderful hypothetical—one that might 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 way in which it did at The Gamers; I end thirtieth within the FedExCup as a result of I needed to withdraw from the final event. Is that actually the season-long race? No,” Scheffler mentioned.
“I don’t actually contemplate it the season-long race like I believe the way in which it’s referred to as. However you’ve acquired to determine a technique to strike a steadiness between it being a superb TV product and it nonetheless being a season-long race. Proper now, I don’t know precisely how the rankings are or something like that, however I do know for a reality you’ll be able to’t actually fairly name it the season-long race when it comes down to at least one stroke-play event on the identical golf course every year.”
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. You’ll want to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.
