Scottie Scheffler Completes Record Season with FedEx Cup and $25M Bonus

ATLANTA (AP) — Scottie Scheffler culminated a remarkable year in golf by clinching the FedEx Cup, the sport’s most prestigious title, along with a staggering $25 million prize — the largest in golf history.

On a challenging final day at the Tour Championship, Scheffler briefly faced pressure but quickly showcased his prowess by notching three consecutive birdies. He finished with an impressive 4-under 67, enough to secure a four-shot victory over Collin Morikawa.

This victory pushed Scheffler’s total earnings for the season, including bonuses, to nearly $62.3 million. His outstanding performance mirrored the legendary dominance of Tiger Woods, who last achieved such heights in 2006 with eight wins, including two majors.

During the season, Scheffler claimed eight tournament victories, notably winning the Masters, The Players Championship, an Olympic gold medal, and now the Tour Championship, finally earning him the long-coveted FedEx Cup.

His seven titles on the PGA Tour this year mark the highest number since Woods won the same amount in 2007.

Rory McIlroy noted the significance of Scheffler’s accomplishments, stating, “We’ll look back on 2024, and it’s obviously one of the best individual years that a player has had for a long time.”

Scheffler effectively eliminated any remaining drama in the tournament — four of his wins in 2023 came by three shots or more. He celebrated with a jubilant “WOOO!!” before signing his scorecard, proudly holding up two trophies: the silver FedEx Cup and his four-month-old son, Bennett.

This season has been one to remember for Scheffler, highlighted by the birth of his first child, overcoming a bizarre arrest in Louisville before the PGA Championship, and claiming another Masters title. It has truly been an unforgettable year for both Scheffler and golf enthusiasts.

“This is a challenging week,” Scheffler admitted during the trophy ceremony. “I’m exhausted right now.”

This marks the third consecutive year Scheffler entered the East Lake tournament as the top seed, beginning at 10-under par with a two-shot advantage. However, two years ago, he allowed a six-shot lead to slip, ultimately losing to McIlroy.

Throughout the championship, Scheffler maintained at least a five-shot lead after every round. Nevertheless, there was a tense moment when he made two consecutive bogeys, with the second coming after a mis-hit from a bunker on the 8th hole. Morikawa capitalized on this, closing the once substantial gap to just two shots heading into the latter ten holes.

However, Scheffler quickly regained his momentum. He hit a 4-iron to within five feet on the par-3 ninth for a birdie, then followed that with a wedge shot to three feet on the 10th. Another birdie, this time from 15 feet on the par-3 11th, extended his lead once again.

“He’s not going to just start making bogeys after that,” Morikawa remarked about Scheffler. “He’s going to do the opposite and start hitting golf shots. It almost brought his focus back in for a half second, and that’s something you can’t teach.”

With a five-shot cushion, Scheffler sealed the deal with a 15-foot eagle putt on the 14th hole, marking a clear path toward the finish line.

Scheffler referred to the FedEx Cup as a season-long race, describing it as “silly” because it all boiled down to the final week at East Lake. Still, he was undeniably the rightful champion of the FedEx Cup.

Throughout 19 tournament appearances this season, Scheffler finished outside of the top 10 only three times and recorded two runner-up finishes alongside his seven victories.

Justin Thomas commended Scheffler’s consistent performance, saying, “He’s the guy to beat every single week. I don’t think people understand how hard that is to do.”

Collin Morikawa, who started the tournament six shots behind as the No. 7 seed, finished the event with a 66, claiming the lowest score at the Tour Championship at 22-under 262. His second-place finish earned him $12.5 million.

“Six shots behind was hard against the best player in the world,” Morikawa acknowledged. “I tried.”

Sahith Theegala, finishing third, played impressively with a final round of 64, two shots behind Morikawa, and secured a $7.5 million bonus. Adam Scott, who tied for fourth, drew parallels between Scheffler’s performance and the golden era of Tiger Woods, emphasizing the difficulty of achieving such a level of consistency in today’s competitive environment.

Reflecting on the season just a few months ago, Scheffler faced skepticism about his putting performance and was approaching a year since his last official PGA Tour title. However, he triumphed in remarkable fashion.

His season earnings demonstrated his prowess, totaling $29,228,356, which comprised roughly 9.2% of the entire purse from the events he participated in — a figure comparable to Woods’ remarkable 11.6% in 2000, regarded as one of the greatest seasons in golf history.

The FedEx Cup prize of $25 million and an additional $8 million from leading the regular season further underscore Scheffler’s dominant year.

Source: AP News