World No. 1 Scotty Scheffler has questioned the “foolish” format of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and whether or not it’s the proper option to decide the PGA Tour’s season-long winner.
Solely the highest 70 within the season-long standings will qualify for the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the primary of three FedEx Cup Playoffs that begins dwell Thursday sky sports activities golfthe highest 50 will advance to subsequent week’s BMW Championship.
The highest 30 gamers then qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake, the place the FedEx Cup leaders begin the week at 10 underneath, with beginning scores used based mostly on a participant’s place within the standings. system.
Scheffler has topped the Tour Championship the previous two seasons however did not go on to win the FedEx Cup, shedding to Rory McIlroy on the ultimate day in 2022 and Viktor Hovland taking the highest spot final season.
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Highlights from the fourth spherical of the 2023 Tour Championship, Viktor Hovland leads the season-long standings.
“I believe it is silly,” Scheffler mentioned earlier than the FedEx St. Jude Championship. “You possibly can’t name it a season-long sport after which boil it right down to a championship.
“Suppose we get to East Lake and my neck abruptly will get infected and it would not heal prefer it did at The Gamers Championship, and I end thirtieth within the FedExCup as a result of I needed to withdraw from the final match? That is actually a sport that lasts the complete Season sport?
“It is a enjoyable sport. I do not see it as a sport that lasts the complete season, as a lot as I believe it would. However you must discover a option to be able the place it is a good TV product and it is nonetheless is an effective stability between TV merchandise.
“Now, I do not know what the scores are like, or something like that, however I do know that with regards to a stroke play sport, you possibly can’t actually name it a season-long match. It is the identical golf course yearly. “
Scheffler heads into the playoffs forward of Xander Schauffele and McIlroy within the FedEx Cup standings, searching for a document fourth FedEx Cup title with six wins on the 2024 PGA Tour He additionally achieved dramatic success on the Olympics.
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Rory McIlroy is able to push for a profitable PGA Tour season after lacking out on the U.S. Open and discusses what precisely he must do to make that occur.
4 factors from the primary two playoff video games may change Scheffler’s place forward of the Tour Championship, with the reigning Masters champion insisting he’ll look again on the season positively even when he misses out on the FedEx Cup title for the third straight yr.
“I strive to not suppose an excessive amount of in regards to the consequence of the sport, and if I do not win East Lake, I will not look again on my season any in another way,” Scheffler added. “I’ll be there and do my finest.
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Watch Scottie Scheffler’s closing spherical on the Masters as he wins his second inexperienced jacket in three years
“The previous two years I’ve been ranked No. 1 going into tournaments. In 2022, I had an awesome probability to win however couldn’t make it occur and performed poorly nearly the complete week final yr.
“I’ve acquired a detailed name there and I am trying ahead to the problem of getting again on the market and main once more. We’ll see what occurs. These guys will in all probability catch me within the subsequent few weeks. However I am trying ahead to it Was in a position to struggle them off and take the lead heading into East Lake.
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McIlroy sees positives in FedEx Cup format
McIlroy gained the 2016 FedEx Cup because the Tour Championship underneath the previous format, by which the championship and season-long standings have been two separate prizes, after which grew to become the primary champion underneath the brand new format in 2019, Then a document third FedEx Cup win in 2022.
“I like this format as a result of if it wasn’t for this format, then we would not have had an opportunity in opposition to Scottie as a result of he was thus far forward,” McIlroy mentioned. “I believe it makes the Tour Championship extra thrilling from a client perspective.
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Rory McIlroy emerged victorious in his final-round battle with Scottie Scheffler in an exhilarating closing spherical of the 2022 Tour Championship.
“Is that the fairest reflection of who’s the participant of the yr? In all probability not. However I believe at this level we’re not being utterly honest, we’re there to entertain and attempt to put out the very best product we presumably can.
“Yeah, it was the primary yr of beginning the Tour Championship in 2019 and I used to be in a position to win that match after which win once more in ’22. I really like the format. It feels a little bit bit like within the common season not everyone seems to be in the identical place. On a stage enjoying subject, however it feels extra prefer it.
Watch the FedEx St Jude Championship dwell on Thursday from 1.15pm on Sky Sports activities+ and 5pm on Sky Sports activities+ sky sports activities golf. Sky Sports activities+ has been formally launched and shall be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, permitting Sky Sports activities prospects to look at greater than 50% of dwell sports activities without spending a dime this yr. Study extra right here.
