Scottie Scheffler’s historic 2024: FedExCup win follows fatherhood, arrest, Olympic gold and PGA Tour dominance | Golf Information

Scottie Scheffler stated he had “lived virtually a full lifetime this one yr” after securing FedExCup victory, capping off a ‘nuts’ season – each on and off the golf course – for the world No 1.

Scheffler closed out a four-stroke victory on the season-ending Tour Championship, the place he by no means relinquished prime spot at any level throughout the 4 days and have become the primary participant since Tiger Woods in 2007 to register seven or extra victories in a yr on the PGA Tour.

It completes a outstanding few months for Scheffler, who grew to become a father for the primary time shortly after profitable The Masters for a second time in three years, was arrested forward of his second spherical on the PGA Championship in Might and in addition received Olympic gold in Paris.

“If you happen to can describe it in phrases, extra energy to you, as a result of I do not suppose I can,” Scheffler advised reporters as he mirrored on his 2024 efforts, following his Tour Championship win. “It has been a protracted yr.

“I feel emotionally proper now I am fairly drained. It has been a really eventful yr however it’s been actually enjoyable. You had the one bizarre spot there at Valhalla (the PGA Championship arrest), however all the things else has been fairly particular.”

Scheffler had topped the FedExCup standings since profitable the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, then added additional victories the The Gamers, The Masters, RBC Heritage, Memorial Event and Vacationers Championship throughout the common season.

The 28-year-old American earned an $8m bonus for main the Comcast Enterprise Tour Prime 10 heading into the FedExCup Playoffs, the place he claimed $25m for his Tour Championship victory to take his season earnings – together with bonuses – to a staggering $62,228,357 (£47.4m).

“I felt like I used to be form of step by step constructing in the direction of one thing,” Scheffler stated. “I had some first rate begins to the yr. I had a pair prime 10s to start out and I used to be near profitable in Phoenix. Then total I used to be taking part in actually stable, so I knew I used to be shut.

“I made some putts this yr after I actually wanted to, and that is why I am sitting right here with a number of wins as a substitute of some. Final yr I used to be taking part in good golf and I wasn’t in a position to make the important thing putts on the proper time, and this yr I used to be. That is actually simply the distinction.

“I am happy with the outcomes. It is one thing I strive to not focus an excessive amount of on, however on the finish of the day, having the ability to win tournaments is a superb feeling, and it is what we work in the direction of, and to have the ability to have as many wins as I’ve this yr is actually particular.”

Scheffler added: “I really feel like I’ve lived virtually a full lifetime on this one yr. It has been nuts. I feel it simply all the time comes again to my religion. I feel that is the factor that simply retains me grounded, retains me in the proper state of mind.”

How Scheffler retains his focus

Scheffler took a two-shot lead into the Tour Championship and was seven forward throughout the early levels of the ultimate spherical, earlier than recovering from seeing his benefit lower to 2 strokes by taking part in his subsequent six holes in 5 below to reclaim management of the event.

“Simply nothing fazes him,” stated Collin Morikawa, who performed alongside Scheffler for the ultimate three rounds at East Lake. “Whether or not I used to be shut in gaining some floor or he was gaining floor, it did not change how he walked or how he performed or how he went via each shot.

“I feel his psychological recreation is lots stronger than lots of people know. It is wonderful what he is been in a position to do for this whole season and actually this previous three years now. It has been actually cool to observe him.”

Scheffler had beforehand squandered a six-shot benefit to McIlroy on the ultimate day of the 2022 Tour Championship, though his newest win is the third occasion in a row and eighth time in 14 makes an attempt on the PGA Tour that he has transformed a 54-hole lead right into a victory.

“Simply suppose how nicely he performs when he is the man to beat each single week,” former FedExCup champion Justin Thomas stated. “I do not suppose individuals perceive how exhausting that’s to do.

“Whenever you’re anticipated to win, whenever you’re the favorite to win, when each single factor you are doing is being checked out, good and unhealthy, on the golf course, and the way exhausting it’s to get in your personal little zone and personal little world and actually simply quiet the noise.

“It is one thing that’s simply as a lot of a ability as having the ability to hit a driver within the fairway or an iron on-line. He is clearly figured that out very nicely. All Scottie desires to do is simply play one of the best he can and win as many tournaments as doable, and he is doing a reasonably good job of that.”

Consistency key for Scheffler?

Scheffler has been one of the best participant on the earth from tee-to-green, along with his 2023 whole one of the best seen since Woods in 2006 and his 2.456 strokes gained in that metric final season almost a stroke higher than some other participant on the PGA Tour.

Solely inconsistency on the greens prevented him from being a extra prolific winner throughout the second half of 2023 and the early a part of this yr, earlier than a change to a mallet-style putter in March helped add one other aspect to Scheffler’s recreation.

“It simply looks like he is principally doing what he did final yr, simply placing most likely a bit of bit extra constantly,” former FedExCup champion Viktor Hovland stated. “Whenever you hit it nearly as good as he does each single week and also you begin making some putts, you are going to be very troublesome to beat.”

The change of putter was initially instructed by Rory McIlroy earlier within the season, with the four-time main winner impressed by Scheffler’s low scoring and talent to restrict errors.

“The one factor I’ve all the time admired about Scottie is the quantity of bogey-free rounds he shoots,” McIlroy stated. “You simply return over the past two, three years and also you have a look at what number of rounds that he’ll shoot like 4 below par, no bogeys.

“It would not look spectacular in any respect, however it’s simply so stable. He would not actually put himself out of place. When you do not make a ton of bogeys, the sphere has bought to do one thing actually particular to maintain up.”

A Tiger-esque season from Scheffler?

Scheffler has been fast to minimize comparisons with Woods at a number of factors this season, however his sustained brilliance has produced numbers and consistency not seen because the 15-time main champion in his prime.

On whether or not Scheffler’s 2024 efficiency is one of the best seen since Woods, former world No 1 Adam Scott stated: “I feel that is truthful. I feel all of the stats again that up. I feel that the outcomes again it up. It has been fairly unbelievable.

“I feel it’s on par with these nice years of Tiger’s. It’s totally exhausting right this moment for anybody to separate themselves as a lot as Scottie has. I do not suppose we have seen that in a very long time.”

Scheffler’s FedExCup success got here after coming into the Tour Championship prime of the standings for the third consecutive yr, along with his 13 PGA Tour wins so far coming in simply over a two-and-a-half-year interval.

“I feel by the definition of dominance, I feel that is actually the place he is sitting,” stated Xander Schauffele, who began the Tour Championship as his closest challenger for FedExCup victory after two main victories in 2024.

“Since I have been out [on the PGA Tour], I feel Dustin [Johnson] had a run, Brooks [Koepka] had a run, Jon [Rahm] had a run, Rory [McIlroy] had a run. However they have been form of punching forwards and backwards between one, two and three.

“Scottie has been on the tip-top of the mountain for 2 full years now it appears.”

Woods’ dominance lasted a technology. Scheffler nonetheless has some strategy to go if he’ll match these efforts, however he is on the proper trajectory to proceed his dominance for a lot of seasons to return.

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