Scottie Scheffler Dominates 2024: A Historic FedEx Cup Triumph
In golf, even the best players can hit a shot that makes everyone cringe. On Sunday, Scottie Scheffler, the world’s number one golfer, experienced one of those moments during the final round of the Tour Championship. But instead of letting it shake him, Scheffler used it as fuel to close out a historic year with a stunning win.
During the final round at East Lake Golf Club, Scheffler found himself in a tight spot after an errant shot from a bunker on the 8th hole—a dreaded shank that sent shivers through the crowd. This shot led to a bogey, cutting his lead over Collin Morikawa to just two shots. For anyone else, this could have been a turning point, especially given Scheffler’s history at this tournament, where he lost a six-shot lead two years ago.
But Scottie Scheffler isn’t just any golfer. He responded like a true champion. He shook off the mistake and hit an impressive tee shot on the 9th hole, setting himself up for a birdie that extended his lead. He then birdied the 10th and 11th holes, securing his advantage and showing why he’s the world’s best.
By the time Scheffler walked off the 18th green, he had shot a final-round 67, finishing the tournament at 30 under par, including the starting strokes advantage. This victory marked his seventh win of the season, a feat that hasn’t been matched since Tiger Woods in 2007.
This win capped off what has been a truly remarkable year for Scheffler. Not only did he capture his first major championship, but he also became a father and overcame some off-course drama, including a falsely reported arrest. Despite these distractions, Scheffler remained focused, earning a staggering $62 million in total earnings this season, including a $25 million bonus from the FedEx Cup.
Reflecting on his year, Scheffler admitted that it’s hard to put into words. “It’s been a long year. It’s been a very fun year. I think emotionally right now I’m pretty drained,” he said. But even with the ups and downs, he described the year as “really fun” and “pretty special.”
What makes Scheffler’s season even more impressive is his improvement in putting, which had been a weak spot in his game last year. He switched to a mallet-style putter before the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and the results were clear. He climbed from the bottom of the putting statistics to finish third in strokes gained putting at East Lake, while also leading in several other key metrics.
His peers have taken notice. Adam Scott, a fellow competitor, compared Scheffler’s season to some of the best years of Tiger Woods. “I think it’s very hard today for anyone to separate themselves as much as Scottie has,” Scott said. Rory McIlroy also praised Scheffler’s consistency, noting that his ability to avoid bogeys makes him incredibly tough to beat.
As Scheffler closed out his round on Sunday, it was clear that he had put together one of the best seasons in recent memory. Despite the pressure and the occasional setback, he remained calm and focused, finishing the job with the poise of a true champion. With this win, Scottie Scheffler solidified his place at the top of the golfing world, and his 2024 season will be remembered as one for the history books.