Scottie Scheffler capped off a historic season with a commanding victory at the Tour Championship on Sunday, securing his first FedEx Cup title at East Lake Golf Club. Scheffler’s final-round 67 earned him a four-shot win and the $25 million prize, solidifying a season reminiscent of Tiger Woods in his prime.
Scheffler, who entered the tournament with a two-shot lead thanks to his FedEx Cup standings, quickly extended his advantage with a stunning 6-under 65 in the opening round. By the end of Friday, he held a seven-shot lead, making him the first player on record to achieve such a margin after just 18 holes in a Tour event.
Despite a brief challenge from Collin Morikawa on Sunday, Scheffler remained unfazed. After a stretch of three bogeys in four holes on the front nine, he responded with three consecutive birdies, followed by a clutch eagle putt at the par-5 14th. This put him back in control, finishing at 30-under for the week.
Morikawa finished second at 26-under after a final-round 66, while Sahith Theegala, who had imposed a two-shot penalty on himself on Saturday, secured third place at 24-under.
A Season for the Ages
Scheffler’s triumph at East Lake was the seventh victory of his 2024 season, making him the first golfer since Woods in 2007 to win seven times in a single season. His victories this year include the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players Championship, the Masters, and the RBC Heritage, among others. He also won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, adding to his remarkable achievements.
Reflecting on his season, Scheffler said, “We’ve put in a lot of work to get to this point. It’s been a long week, and I’m just pretty tired right now. But it’s a special feeling to be holding the trophy.”
Breaking Records and Setting New Standards
Scheffler’s win brought his career total to 13 victories, with more than half coming this year. He became the fastest golfer to reach 13 Tour wins since 1960, breaking Jack Nicklaus’ previous record by nearly 100 days. Additionally, he shattered the single-season earnings record, surpassing $50 million for the year.
Scheffler will continue his reign as the world’s No. 1 golfer, marking his 68th consecutive week at the top of the Official World Golf Rankings.
With this historic season, Scheffler has firmly established himself as the premier golfer of his generation, drawing inevitable comparisons to the legends of the sport. As the 2024 season concludes, Scheffler’s dominance leaves the golf world eagerly anticipating what’s next for the 28-year-old star.