Scottie Scheffler notched his sixth win on the PGA Tour in 2024 in the season finale to go along with his major and gold medal. A revamped East Lake golf club in Atlanta, Georgia, played host for the 20th time for the Tour Championship. Scheffler’s year has been astronomically good, and he has had a year better than most other people’s careers. He won over $62 million and became the first golfer ever to win The Masters, Players and FedEx Cup in the same year.
Embed from Getty ImagesTour Champs Briefing
The undisputed World Number One won the season-ender by four shots over Collin Morikawa after starting at ten-under par on Thursday. The staggered start resulted from the standings before the Tour Championship, which meant Scheffler began with a slight advantage. In fact, if all 30 players had started at even par, like in a normal tournament, Scottie would have finished third. Morikawa was 22-under for the week after starting at four under, and Theegala was 21-under over the four rounds starting at three under.
This does not signify the importance of the staggered start, although a different format may be more suitable. But Scheffler earned that advantage with his incredibly consistent dominance all year, hence why no one else deserved to win but him.
It was not straightforward for Scottie on Sunday despite holding a lead all day and all week. He drove it in the greenside bunker on the drivable 8th hole before shanking it and making a bogey. This left the door ajar for Morikawa. Or so he thought. Scheffler then made birdie on the next two holes and then dropped an eagle on the par-five 14th to seal the deal.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe year as a whole
2024 was Scheffler’s year. The first player since the great Tiger Woods in 2007 to win seven or more times in a PGA Tour season. He received some backlash because even though he played so well, he only finished the year with one major. Most thought that his play warranted at least one more. At The Open at Troon, he was in contention but faltered on the back nine on Sunday. The PGA was full of controversy when he got arrested before the second round. And he was pretty non-competitive at Pinehurst for the US Open despite making the cut still.
Xander Schauffele won 50% of the majors in 2024, which poses the question, whose year would you have preferred to have had? Scheffler’s two majors are both at Augusta. Can he add to that tally at a different venue next year? He will definitely be the favourite at The Masters in April, but he will also fancy his chances at Oakmont and Quail Hollow for the US Open and PGA Championship.
The US has the Presidents Cup to turn their attention to in just under a month before the offseason kicks in. After how busy the year is for the top pros on Tour, some time out will be essential for Scheffler and the rest before 2025 rolls around.
