MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Scottie Scheffler is the No. 1 seed heading into the PGA Tour’s postseason with a significant lead. However, claiming the FedEx Cup and its $25 million prize still seems like a distant goal.
The FedEx Cup playoffs kick off at the St. Jude Championship on Thursday for the top 70 players from the season standings. Following this week, the top 50 players will advance to the BMW Championship, and from there, the top 30 will qualify for the season finale at the Tour Championship.
Scheffler views this postseason not as an opportunity to solidify his incredible season of victories at the Masters, an Olympic gold medal, The Players Championship, and four major events against tough competition.
Despite his achievements since January and whatever he accomplishes in the next two weeks, Scheffler can only start the Tour Championship at East Lake with a two-shot lead, given the unpredictable nature of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
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Scheffler held the No. 1 seed entering the Tour Championship in the past two years. However, he squandered a six-shot lead on the final day in 2022, and last year, he fell out of contention after shooting 73 in the third round. With East Lake undergoing renovations, there’s hope for a different outcome this time.
“Ultimately, it all comes down to East Lake,” Scheffler mentioned on Wednesday. “I haven’t performed my best at East Lake in recent years. I’m looking forward to the course changes and the new energy it might bring.”
For the PGA Tour, the dilemma was between creating excitement with all 30 players having a chance at the title or rewarding someone like Scheffler, who has had a dominant season.
Since the current format was implemented in 2019, where there are two playoff events with quadruple points and the top seed starts the Tour Championship at 10-under par with a two-shot lead, none of the top seeds have emerged as the winner.
“It’s a challenge to strike a balance between having a compelling TV product and maintaining the integrity of a season-long race,” Scheffler commented. “Right now… it’s not truly a season-long race when it boils down to one stroke-play tournament on the same course every year.”
If it were a genuine season-long race, this period leading up to Scheffler’s crowning would be more ceremonial.
“That wouldn’t be fair either,” he added. “It may benefit me, but those are not the rules.”
The current system works well for Rory McIlroy, the only three-time FedEx Cup champion. Despite his championships in 2016, 2019, and 2022, McIlroy never started the postseason as the top seed or the favorite heading into the Tour Championship.
“I appreciate this format because without it, none of us would stand a chance against Scheffler due to his substantial lead,” McIlroy acknowledged.
“Is it a fair reflection of who was the best player of the year? Probably not,” McIlroy admitted. “But at this stage, we prioritize entertainment and delivering the best product possible.”
The intrigue of the FedEx St. Jude Championship lies at the bottom of the standings. Making it to the top 50 is crucial in this era of lucrative events with $20 million prizes. Those who advance to the second playoff tournament are guaranteed entry into the eight significant events with high prize money and FedEx Cup points.
However, even this advantage doesn’t guarantee success. Seven players, including the defending champion Lucas Glover, failed to qualify for the postseason.
Among those outside the top 50 going into this week is Jordan Spieth at No. 63.
Scheffler isn’t alone in the postseason spotlight. Xander Schauffele, sitting at No. 2, has been consistent with wins at the PGA Championship, the British Open, and nine top 10 finishes in his last 12 events.
One advantage Schauffele holds is his dominance at East Lake, where he has posted impressive scores. However, he has fallen short due to a staggered start in previous seasons. The upcoming weeks will be crucial for Schauffele to maintain his position, especially with the new course changes.
“I’m approaching it like it’s my first time at East Lake,” Schauffele mentioned.
