Scottie Scheffler’s Tour Championship win revealed two attention-grabbing issues about him.
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Welcome to the Monday End, the place school soccer is again! It’ll be good for golf followers to lastly get a break from rating controversies, sketchy sources of funding, Georgia on the heart of the universe and [checks notes] hmm, by no means thoughts. To the golf information…
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GOLF STUFF I LIKE
5 issues we realized about Scottie Scheffler.
If you happen to skipped Sunday’s motion on the Tour Championship, checked the ultimate rating and dismissed it as one other Scottie Scheffler beatdown, you’re not fallacious, precisely. However you additionally missed out on a number of revealing moments to cap off a surreal season.
Scheffler started the day with a five-shot lead. By the point he reached the fourth gap he had a seven-shot lead. Over the subsequent a number of holes, although, issues modified rapidly. Wayward drives left at 5 and seven led to bogeys, and by the point Scheffler took his stance in a greenside bunker on the drivable par-4 eighth his lead had shrunk to 4. Then Scheffler hit a chilly, laborious shank with that bunker shot, a stunning miss that despatched his ball skittering off the opposite facet of the inexperienced. (Think about that Factor 1: World No. 1 can hit a imply bunker shank.) From there he shorted his chip shot and walked off with one other bogey, whereas enjoying accomplice Collin Morikawa made birdie to immediately draw inside two.
Scheffler’s post-round shank rationalization was attention-grabbing. “That precise particular bunker shot, for some motive I want to determine why, however I shank it much more usually than I ought to after I’m on a facet slope like that,” he mentioned. (That’s Factor 2: these shanks apparently occur with some frequency.)
As for his in-round, on-course response? That was downright jaw-dropping. A hovering long-iron at No. 9 from 236 yards to 5 ft. Birdie. A towering wedge at No. 10 to 3 ft. Birdie. And a 15-footer for birdie at No. 11 that Scheffler walked in with hardly a response, capping off a three-hole stretch that screamed sufficient screwing round. Then got here the door-slamming eagle at No. 14, a reminder that Scheffler isn’t only a proficient golfer. He’s the world’s most proficient golfer — and he’s an absolute killer, too.
The 2024 model of Scheffler is completely different, and his 2024 season was completely different, and the tip of the 2024 season served to hammer that time house. That’s Factor 3. Scheffler’s completely different than Viktor Hovland was a 12 months in the past, or Rory McIlroy a 12 months earlier than that, or Patrick Cantlay a 12 months earlier than that. This Scheffler is completely different than the Scheffler of these years, too — completely different than final 12 months and the 12 months earlier than, the place he additionally entered East Lake with the lead however left having surrendered it. As a substitute, when he received this time round it bolstered the concept that his season — the Gamers, the Masters, half the Signature Occasions, Olympic Gold, now the Tour Championship — was completely different than any PGA Tour season since one Tiger Woods performed a decade and a half in the past.
“Yeah, it’s nice,” Scheffler mentioned, requested to sum up his seven-win season. However then he paused. “Nonetheless don’t perceive why the Olympics doesn’t rely. That’s a bit bizarre to me. I believe that’s a part of the greed that goes on in your mind, is you say seven, I’m like, ‘I received eight.’ I received the Olympics in the course of the 12 months, and for some motive it doesn’t rely as an official PGA Tour win. It counts the identical as — no offense to the Hero — but it surely counts the identical because the Hero World Problem within the grand scheme of issues.”
Who’s counting? Scheffler, clearly. Winner. Nonetheless a slight chip on his shoulder. That’s Factor 4.
We realized one thing else, too, about the best way Scheffler thinks and the best way he cares. We’ll name this Factor 5, and it got here in an interview with Mike Tirico as he accepted the winner’s trophy and was requested about his season.
“It’s laborious to place into phrases what this 12 months has been like for me,” he mentioned. He thanked his spouse and his son, but it surely was telling the place his thoughts went subsequent.
“Actually, to the followers as effectively,” he mentioned. “After the stuff that occurred in Louisville I didn’t actually know precisely what was going to occur after I confirmed as much as the primary tee. However the reception I received on the tee was one thing I’ll bear in mind for a very long time.”
The stuff that occurred in Louisville may very well be album title however on this case refers to Scheffler’s weird arrest on the PGA Championship on account of an unlucky miscommunication with an overzealous member of the Louisville P.D. In actual time Scheffler appeared to take the episode in stride and and within the weeks that adopted he sidestepped questions on the topic, citing ongoing authorized proceedings. However this recall at season’s finish was a window into Scheffler’s thoughts, with one clear conclusion: that was a extremely huge deal.
In actual time it was as simple because it was for the web to fireplace off jokes about Scheffler’s orange-jumpsuited mugshot, all in good enjoyable. However transport your self to Scheffler’s footwear and your complete episode was jarring. It was a reminder that issues can go fallacious, even for probably the most proficient amongst us, and that even for those who spend your life making an attempt to deal with individuals the precise approach, a stranger on a darkish, wet morning received’t know that. I’m positive Scheffler had by no means actually imagined himself because the form of one that’d find yourself in a jail cell. As soon as he’d change into that particular person, maybe his worldview shifted only a bit.
The recall to Tirico appeared like an admission of precisely that. That when Scheffler had made it again to Valhalla to play golf that day, he fearful what individuals may suppose. For a man who’d by no means been accused of being something however just a little boring, that was new. However the public took his facet. They’re nonetheless on his facet. He’s clearly grateful.
In all we realized that Scheffler post-shank remains to be the perfect participant on the planet. We realized that Scheffler’s Louisville episode left an actual impression. Mixed, we realized that Scheffler is human. Simply actually, actually good with a long-iron.
Studying new issues about Scottie Scheffler, eight wins later: that’s golf stuff I like.
WINNERS
Who received the week?
Scottie Scheffler received the Tour Championship and its $25 million first prize. Good week.
Haeran Ryu rebounded from a Saturday 78 with a Sunday 64 to chase down Jin Younger Ko — after which beat her on the primary further gap to win the inaugural FM Championship at TPC Boston.
Niklas Norgaard fulfilled a lifelong dream by capturing his maiden win on the DP World Tour at age 32. The Danish professional overcame a viral chipping meltdown at No. 15 to win the Betfred British Masters by two.
One other Dane, Fredrik Kjettrup, received for the third time on the PGA Tour Americas, incomes him assured promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour for 2025.
And Staff Nice Britain and Eire received their first Curtis Cup since 2016 by a single level in a dramatic end at Sunningdale Golf Membership.
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NOT-WINNERS
A great 12 months for many, however…
Rory McIlroy performed effectively however by no means contended on the Tour Championship, a outcome that was in some methods becoming for a season that was stable however, by his lofty requirements, nonetheless disappointing. He described feeling like a “distant third” on the planet behind Scheffler and Xander Schauffele and, despite the fact that he nonetheless has 5 begins left this fall to make 27 for the 12 months, plans to chop again his schedule for 2025.
“I’m normally form of like a 22 [start] form of particular person. However once more, that was after I was form of in my 20s and didn’t have the duties that I do now,” he mentioned. “I’m going to attempt to lower it again to love 18 or 20 a 12 months going ahead, I believe.”
Whether or not that’s simply end-of-season fatigue speaking stays to be seen; within the meantime we’ll look ahead to McIlroy on the Horizon Irish Open on the legendary Royal County Down in simply two weeks’ time.
SHORT HITTERS
5 execs (apart from Scottie) who left the Tour Championship pleased.
Collin Morikawa shot the bottom 72-hole rating within the area, incomes a win on the “faux leaderboard.” He completed second on the adjusted leaderboard, incomes $12 million. He moved again as much as No. 4 on the planet and capped off a terrific season. “I wanted so much decrease and I knew that. However I fought laborious, and all week, truthfully, that’s sort of the golf I missed enjoying,” he mentioned. “Hopefully we will use this as a stepping stone into subsequent 12 months.”
Sahith Theegala shot the second-lowest 72-hole rating within the area. He additionally known as a penalty on himself mid-round Saturday, incomes the respect of {the golfing} public — after which rebounded with seven birdies on the again 9 and eight extra in Sunday’s spherical to complete solo third.
Russell Henley completed higher than anybody, making birdie at No. 17 after which pitching in for eagle from 35 yards out at No. 18 to complete off a spherical of 9-under 62 that received him into T4 and the most important payday — $4.83 mil — of his profession. He additionally all however assured a spot on the Presidents Cup workforce within the course of. “Clearly a dream of mine, why I work so laborious is to make one in every of these groups. Hopefully it really works out,” he mentioned.
Adam Scott completed robust, too; simply final week he needed to play his approach into the Tour Championship and took full benefit as soon as he received right here, taking pictures 66-67-68-67 to complete T4 alongside Henley. “Abruptly I really feel like I’m participant once more,” he mentioned post-round.
And Justin Thomas, who arrived at No. 30, the final man within the area, put collectively a stable case for the U.S. Presidents Cup workforce’s last captain’s decide when he made eight birdies in a Sunday 65 to show within the seventh-best rating of the week. “Actually hope I get an opportunity at Presidents Cup as a result of I really feel like — it was enjoyable. These final couple days and this week I performed actually, very well. It was good to have spherical to complete off the season at this time.”
ONE DUMB GRAPHIC
Scottie Scheffler, the franchise.
ONE SWING THOUGHT
The place Scottie beats Xander.
World No. 2 Xander Schauffele was requested what he’d prefer to borrow from No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
“After I’m driving it effectively, I really feel like I can get him, however general I’d say he’s most likely received me in driving,” Schauffele mentioned. “Simply his accuracy is absolutely good when he wants to select it up or drop the velocity just a little bit simply to hit extra fairways.”
He’s proper. Scheffler led the Tour Championship in strokes gained off the tee and he’s No. 3 on the season in that class. Schauffele’s no slouch off the tee at No. 10 for the season however was twenty second at East Lake, which contributed to him falling out of competition. Total there’s a motive these guys are 1-2 on the planet — they’re 1-2 in strokes gained from tee to inexperienced. Scheffler simply occurs to be No. 1 by fairly a bit.
ONE BIG QUESTION
Ought to we be within the American Southeast in August?
I spent a number of days at East Lake this week and left feeling … sweaty. I loved the modifications to the golf course, I just like the clubhouse, the lake is cool, 18 is a memorable finisher and there have been loads of big-time moments on these historic fairways, however particularly through the apply rounds I discovered 95 and humid to be so oppressive that it form of sucked the power out of the place. Judging by participant suggestions, Memphis was even worse — a golf course gamers like however contested in triple-digit warmth indexes.
Alternatively, the BMW Championship at Fortress Pines earned rave critiques. I used to be questioning if gamers can be complaining a few playoff occasion at elevation however they appeared to search out the course setup, fan turnout and common event operation to be top-notch. The climate didn’t damage, both.
There are important sponsor pursuits retaining the Tour’s playoff occasions in Atlanta and Memphis. And though these are each attractive locations to play golf within the spring, August appears to have residents craving for air con. In the meantime, in different big-time sports activities markets — suppose New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, or West Coast choices like Seattle (Chambers Bay?), the Bay Space (even Pebble Seaside?) there appears to be an urge for food for extra however no golf coming. It is a spot for questions, not full options, so I’ll go away it right here: Why not make the FedEx St. Jude a big-time spring occasion, work East Lake into the Masters lead-up and get inventive in some big-time markets come playoff time?
ONE THING TO WATCH
Norgaard’s chip-choppy end.
I discussed above that Danish 32-year-old Niklas Norgaard suffered some chipping woes en path to victory. However what did that appear to be? Reinforcing Scheffler’s message from earlier, it’s value a watch simply to do not forget that despite the fact that the professionals positively aren’t similar to us, they’re not good both.
“I used to be nervous, however not that nervous. That was purely simply chipping badly,” mentioned Norgaard after making double bogey.
NEWS FROM SEATTLE
Monday End HQ.
It’s back-to-school week right here, which suggests it’s golf tryout season, too. A few of you have got already been by way of that course of this summer season — or maybe your children have. Good luck, gang. Go low. Have enjoyable. Absorb the nice and cozy climate and lengthy afternoons whereas we’ve nonetheless received ’em. And bear in mind, for those who hit a shank, you may simply be in your method to World No. 1.
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Dylan Dethier welcomes your feedback at dylan_dethier@golf.com.
