Scottie Scheffler cruises to Tour Championship win

Scottie Scheffler Dominates Tour Championship to Secure Historic Win

Scottie Scheffler showcased why he is considered the best player in the world, securing a commanding victory at the 2024 Tour Championship in Atlanta. With this win, Scheffler became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2007 to claim seven PGA Tour titles in a single season.

Despite a brief moment of uncertainty on Sunday, where Scheffler saw his seven-shot lead narrow to just two strokes within the first eight holes, he quickly reminded everyone of his exceptional skill. Following a stumble that included a rare shank from a greenside bunker on the par-4 eighth, Scheffler found himself under pressure with 11 holes to play. But, as he has done so often this season, Scheffler responded with brilliance.

He proceeded to birdie the next three holes and added a spectacular eagle on the 14th, a 5-under surge in just six holes. This remarkable stretch extended his lead to five shots over his nearest competitor, Collin Morikawa, effectively putting any thoughts of a comeback to rest. Scheffler’s poise and precision down the stretch sealed his four-shot victory, capping off what has been an extraordinary season with his first FedEx Cup title.

Reflecting on the tournament, fellow golfer Shane Lowry, who finished tied for ninth, observed, “I saw after eight holes, he looked like he was in a bit of, not trouble, but I thought Collin could catch him. Then he birdies five of the next six, and right there, the tournament is over again. He deserves to win this tournament. He deserves to win the FedEx Cup. He’s been the best player the last few years, and he’s not won it yet. Yeah, it’s just incredible the golf he’s played.”

Rory McIlroy, who also tied for ninth, shared similar sentiments after his final-round 66, saying, “Hopefully Scottie goes on and finishes this thing off because he deserves it after the year he’s had.”

Scheffler’s victory at the Tour Championship not only earned him his seventh title of the season but also made him the first player since Woods to achieve such a feat. His wins this season include a major title at the Masters, a near-major victory at The Players Championship, a gold medal at the Olympics, and four significant tournament wins (Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Memorial Tournament, and Travelers Championship). His season culminated with a triumph in the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup, solidifying his status as the PGA Tour’s best player of the year.

Collin Morikawa finished with the lowest 72-hole score of the tournament at 22-under, two strokes better than Scheffler’s 30-under tally. However, due to the starting format, Morikawa couldn’t close the gap and settled for second place, earning $12.5 million despite not winning any tournaments this season.

Sahith Theegala secured third place at 24-under, despite incurring a two-stroke penalty in the third round. This penalty cost him a chance to tie with Morikawa and an additional $2.5 million in prize money, finishing with $7.5 million instead of $10 million.

Xander Schauffele, Adam Scott, and Russell Henley tied for fourth place at 19-under, followed by Sungjae Im in seventh at 18-under and Wyndham Clark in eighth at 17-under. Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Hideki Matsuyama rounded out the top ten, all finishing tied for ninth at 16-under.

Scheffler’s victory in Atlanta not only added another trophy to his already impressive collection but also pushed his on-course earnings for the season, including bonuses, to over $62 million, making 2024 a year to remember in his stellar career.