World No 1 Scottie Scheffler has questioned the “silly” format for the FedExCup Playoffs and whether or not it’s the proper solution to decide the season-long winner on the PGA Tour.
Solely the highest 70 within the season-long standings get to qualify for the FedEx St Jude Championship, the primary of three FedExCup Playoffs and reside from Thursday on Sky Sports activities Golf, with the highest 50 then progressing to the BMW Championship the next week.
The highest 30 then qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake, the place the FedExCup chief begins the week on 10 beneath and a beginning strokes system is used primarily based on the place a participant is within the standings.
Scheffler has gone into the Tour Championship high of the standings the previous two seasons however did not go on to win the FedExCup, having misplaced out to Rory McIlroy on the ultimate day in 2022 earlier than Viktor Hovland completed in high spot final season.
“I think it’s silly,” Scheffler mentioned forward of the FedEx St Jude Championship. “You may’t name it a season-long race and have it come down to at least one match.
“Hypothetically we get to East Lake and my neck flares up and it does not heal the best way it did at The Gamers, I end thirtieth within the FedExCup as a result of I needed to withdraw from the final match? Is that basically the season-long race? No. It’s what it’s.
“It is a enjoyable match. I do not actually take into account it the season-long race like I feel the best way it is referred to as. However you have to work out a solution to strike a steadiness between it being a great TV product and it nonetheless being a season-long race.
“Right now, I don’t know exactly how the ratings are or anything like that, but I know for a fact you can’t really quite call it the season-long race when it comes down to one stroke-play tournament on the same golf course each year.”
Scheffler heads into the Playoffs with a commanding lead on the high of the FedExCup standings over Xander Schauffele and McIlroy, chasing a file fourth FedExCup title, having gained six instances on the PGA Tour in 2024 alongside his dramatic Olympic success.
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Rory McIlroy is able to push for a giant end to the PGA Tour season after lacking out on the US Open and discusses what precisely he might want to do to attain it.
Quadruple factors on provide on the first two Playoff occasions could change Scheffler’s place earlier than the Tour Championship, with the reigning Masters champion insisting he’ll look again on the season positively even when he misses out on FedExCup victory for a 3rd successive yr.
“I try not to think too much about the results at tournaments and I’m not going to look back on my season really any differently if I don’t win East Lake,” Scheffler added. “I will present up there, do my greatest.
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Watch the story of Scottie Scheffler’s closing spherical at The Masters, the place he secured the Inexperienced Jacket for a second time in three years
“I’ve been No. 1 the last two years going into the tournament. Went in 2022 having a really great chance to win and wasn’t able to pull it off, and last year really just playing poorly pretty much the entire week.
“I’ve had shut calls there, and I am wanting ahead to the problem of going again there and taking part in with the lead once more. We’ll see what occurs. These guys may catch me in these subsequent couple weeks. However I am wanting ahead to hopefully fending them off and going into East Lake with a lead.”
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McIlroy sees positives in FedExCup format
McIlroy gained the 2016 FedExCup with Tour Championship victory beneath the outdated format, the place the match and the season-long standings had been two separate rewards, then was the primary winner beneath the brand new system in 2019 earlier than claiming a file third FedExCup victory in 2022.
“I love this format because if it wasn’t this format, then none of us would have a chance against Scottie because he’s so far ahead,” McIlroy mentioned. “I feel it makes the Tour Championship extra thrilling from a client standpoint.
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The perfect of the motion from the ultimate spherical of the 2022 Tour Championship, the place Rory McIlroy prevailed in a final-round tussle with Scottie Scheffler.
“Is it the fairest reflection of who’s been the best player of the year? Probably not. But I think at this point we’re not in for totally fair, we’re in for entertainment and for trying to put on the best product we possibly can.
“Yeah, the primary yr that it was the beginning strokes at Tour Championship in 2019, I used to be in a position to win that one, after which in ’22 once more. I like this format. It form of appears like it is a bit of a reset after the common season. Everybody will not be fairly on a stage taking part in discipline, but it surely feels a bit extra like that.”
Watch the FedEx St Jude Championship live from Thursday at 1.15pm on Sky Sports+ and 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra reside sport this yr at no additional value. Discover out extra right here.
