Scottie Scheffler caps dominant year with FedExCup golf title
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Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrating with his wife Meredith, son Bennett and the FedExCup trophy.
PHOTO: AFP
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ATLANTA – The inevitable became official on Sept 1 afternoon at East Lake Golf Club: Scottie Scheffler won the Tour Championship and clinched the FedExCup, the first season-long championship of his PGA Tour career.
He finished a whopping 30-under 264 and defeated fellow American Collin Morikawa by four strokes after an eventful round of four-under 67 in Atlanta. The world No. 1 added a FedExCup to his growing resume and took home the corresponding US$25 million (S$32.7 million) bonus.
He made up for back-to-back bogeys by ripping off a three-birdie run at Nos. 9 to 11. A 15- foot eagle putt at the par-five 14th was the final highlight of his commanding campaign that reasserted his status as the best golfer in the world.
Morikawa applied pressure early and went on to shoot 66 – not enough to get in Scheffler’s way.
The stoic Scheffler cracked a smile at caddie Ted Scott after tapping in for par at No. 18.
“It’s a pretty special feeling to be finally holding the trophy,” the 28-year-old said.
For the third consecutive year, he entered the Tour Championship at 10 under with a two-shot head start thanks to the FedExCup starting strokes format. He finished the job after failing to convert in 2022 and 2023.
“I’ve been the Player of the Year for the tour the last two years and I haven’t left with this trophy,” Scheffler said. “It definitely I think leaves a bad taste in my mouth at the end of the year, especially when I start with the lead.”
He became the first player since Tiger Woods (2007) to win seven times on tour in one season. His other victories were the Masters, the Players Championship and four signature events.
“We’ll look back on 2024 and it’s obviously one of the best individual years that a player has had for a long time,” Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy said, as Scheffler finished his round.
Scheffler’s ascendancy comes at a particularly lucrative moment in PGA Tour history.
With purses increasing in recent years, he managed to break the tour record for most official money in a season for the third year running. He won US$29,228,357 in official money this season, excluding the US$25 million FedExCup bonus.
That is to say nothing of the other milestone of his year. His first child, Bennett, was born in May.
Days later, Louisville police arrested him over a traffic miscommunication outside the PGA Championship host venue; charges were dismissed before the end of the month. In August, he added the Olympic gold to his golf resume.
“I feel like I’ve lived almost a full lifetime in this one year,” Scheffler said. “It’s been nuts.”
American Sahith Theegala capped off his best career showing at a FedExCup play-off event, holding on to third place at 24 under thanks to a final-round 64. REUTERS
