Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Essayist
ATLANTA — Scottie Scheffler got here inside of 1 stroke of successful the FedEx Cup ultimate season, and he’ll get started the hole spherical of Thursday’s Excursion Championship with a 2-stroke benefit over the residue of the 30-man ground.
The sector Incorrect. 1 golfer nonetheless isn’t satisfied that the Excursion Championship, with its staggered-scoring layout, is one of the simplest ways for the PGA Excursion to make a decision its season-long champion and winner of an $18 million bonus.
“I wouldn’t say that it is the best format to identify the best golfer for the year,” Scheffler stated Wednesday at East Puddle Golfing Membership. “Jon Rahm played some of the best golf of anybody this year and he’s coming into this tournament fourth and he’s 4 shots back. And, in theory, he could have won 20 times this year and he would only have a 2-shot lead.”
With two victories, 16 top-10s and 20 top-25s in 22 begins, Scheffler led the PGA Excursion with 4,218 FedEx Cup issues. That’s 194 greater than Viktor Hovland and 724 greater than Rory McIlroy.
Scheffler will get started the Excursion Championship at 10 beneath. Hovland will likely be at 8 beneath, McIlroy at 7 beneath, and Rahm at 6 beneath. Perceptible Championship winner Brian Harman is amongst 5 golfers who will start the match at 4 beneath. The residue of the ground will get started 3 beneath to even.
“I mean, I get it,” Scheffler stated. “It’s made for TV. It may be more exciting for the fans to have this type of format. But as players I think it’s not the best identifier of who is playing the best throughout the year. But with that being said, I’m starting this week with a 2-shot lead and, I mean, I’m not complaining about it.
“It’s nice-looking great. And we’re enjoying for a accumulation of cash this era and I’m very thankful for that. However so far as figuring out the most efficient participant right through the future, I don’t suppose it’s the most efficient layout.”
Last season, Scheffler was first in points and started the Tour Championship with a 2-stroke lead at 10 under. He carded a 5-under 65 in the first round, followed by a pair of 4-under 66s. He had a 6-shot lead over McIlroy and Xander Schauffele heading into the final round.
Scheffler could manage only a 3-over 73 over the final 18 holes and lost to McIlroy by a stroke.
“Indisputably sought after to finish the season on a greater observe than I did ultimate future, needless to say,” Scheffler said. “What did I be informed? I feel you’re taking one thing clear of each and every match. I don’t know if impatient is the fitting assurance, within the ultimate spherical, however I simply didn’t get off to a just right get started. Then that, I performed truly smartly. So I discovered about myself that, , how a lot I love to combat available in the market, and I more or less had a just right talking-to to myself. I feel I misplaced that 6-stroke govern nice-looking early within the spherical.
“I remember walking down No. 8 and kind of just having a talk with myself about, you know, ‘This is why you practice. This is why you prepare.’ Just kind of give yourself a little pump-up speech, and then after that I snapped right back in.”
McIlroy used to be 11 strokes at the back of Scheffler at one level ultimate season prior to successful his 3rd Excursion Championship. In contrast to Scheffler, McIlroy stated he likes the tide layout.
“I do like it this way,” McIlroy stated. “I think it gives the guys that have had the better years an advantage going into the week, which I think they should have. If anything, Scottie this year, he probably should have more of an advantage than a 2-shot lead. But it makes it an exciting week, you know, if guys feel like they have a chance to win. Of all the iterations of the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs, I think this is the best one yet.”
