ATLANTA — Scottie Scheffler still has work to do at the Tour Championship.
The world’s No. Rory McIlroy, the world’s No.
Scheffler aided McIlroy by making three bogeys on the first five holes.
Scheffler said, “I’m not sure if impatience is the correct word, but in the final round I didn’t start off well.” “I remember walking up No. “I remember walking down No.
When asked what he had learned from that defeat, he replied, “how much he likes to fight outside.”
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Scheffler is returning to East Lake Golf Club feeling the pain of yet another close call. Scheffler was on his way to his third PGA Tour victory of the year, and his first since March at the BMW Championship, until Viktor Hovland raced past him with seven birdies over his final nine-holes.
“It’s quite hard to win here.” “I think last week is a good example. I went into Sunday tied for first place, and on the 17th tee I was probably 5 under for the day, on a course that hosted the U.S. Open, but I got passed,” he said.
Scheffler is a model for consistency, having won the WM Phoenix Open as well as the Players Championship. He has also finished T-12 or higher in 19 out of 22 starts. Justin Ray, a stats expert, noted on social media this week that Scheffler will become the first Tour player since Tiger Woods to end a season with greens-in regulation percentages of 75 percent or greater if he hits 62 greens or more in regulation.
McIlroy said on Wednesday that he could have the greatest ball-striking year of all time. “He has hit the ball at least as well, if not even better than Tiger did in 2000. That is our benchmark.”
Scheffler hasn’t been able to win more often despite his uncanny ball striking. His putter is the reason. Scheffler hasn’t won in 168 days, but he’s had nine top-5 finishes over his last 12 starts.
He said: “I’m always disappointed when I don’t get to win a golf tournament, but as a professional, I try to accept that because I can’t be successful that often.” “But I try my best to do that every week.”
Scheffler has earned over $20 million in this season. He’s the first player in history to have won the FedEx Cup for two consecutive years and enter the Tour Championship in that position. He is two strokes ahead of his nearest pursuer Viktor Hovland as he enters the tournament with a score of 10 under for the staggered start. The FedEx Cup will be awarded to the player who has the lowest total strokes over 72 holes, when combined with FedEx Cup start strokes.
“I’ve made a lot of jokes about being number one. You don’t receive any strokes extra if you do not show up. I get extra strokes if you do. It’s strange but should be an interesting week,” Scheffler said.
Starting in the front does not guarantee victory. McIlroy pointed out that he was 11 strokes back of Scheffler in the first round last year after just two holes.
McIlroy stated, “If I am able to come back after 11 shots, then I think everyone on this field has a chance of winning.”
