Scottie Scheffler hits out at ‘silly’ PGA rules as he bids to avoid Rory McIlroy repeat

Scottie Scheffler, the dominant force in the 2024 PGA Tour season with six victories, including his first two major championships, has expressed his concerns over the current playoff structure, despite his incredible achievements. Holding a massive lead in the FedEx Cup standings and amassing over $30 million in earnings, Scheffler remains skeptical about his chances of securing the FedEx Cup title under the existing format.

As the playoffs commence at TPC Southwind in Memphis with the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Scheffler’s stellar season has positioned him at the top of the FedEx Cup standings. However, the PGA Tour’s format for the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta—altered five years ago to enhance its appeal for TV audiences—has drawn criticism for potentially undermining the efforts of top players throughout the season.

Despite his remarkable performance, Scheffler faces uncertainty as he heads into the Tour Championship in two weeks. Under the current structure, the leader in the standings starts the tournament at 10-under-par, with second-placed Xander Schauffele beginning at eight-under, and third-placed Rory McIlroy at seven-under. This format, intended to create excitement, has raised questions about its fairness.

Scheffler is no stranger to the downsides of this structure. In 2022, despite holding a significant lead in the FedEx Cup going into East Lake, he saw his advantage disappear as McIlroy surged ahead to claim the title and the $18 million prize. A similar scenario unfolded last season when Scheffler, leading before the final showdown, faltered and finished far behind Viktor Hovland due to an off week, demonstrating how quickly fortunes can change in the current system.

During a recent press conference, Scheffler did not shy away from voicing his discontent. “I think it’s silly,” he said, criticizing the idea of a season-long race being decided by one tournament. He pointed out the inherent risks, such as injury, that could derail a player’s chances despite their consistent performance throughout the year. “Hypothetically, we get to East Lake and my neck flares up, and it doesn’t heal the way it did at The Players. I finish 30th in the FedEx Cup because I had to withdraw from the last tournament. Is that really the season-long race? No.”

Scheffler acknowledged that while the Tour Championship is an exciting event, it fails to truly represent the season-long competition it claims to be. He called for a better balance between creating a compelling TV product and maintaining the integrity of the season-long race. “Right now, I don’t know exactly how the ratings are or anything like that, but I know for a fact you can’t really quite call it the season-long race when it comes down to one stroke play tournament on the same golf course each year.”

As the final tournament approaches, the debate over the PGA Tour’s playoff structure continues, with Scheffler’s situation highlighting the complexities and potential shortcomings of the current format. Despite his unmatched success this season, the outcome of the FedEx Cup remains far from certain, a reality that Scheffler believes needs re-evaluation.