Additional Coverage:
- Scottie Scheffler closes in on $25 million FedEx Cup prize with late burst of birdies (newsbreak.com)
ATLANTA — Scottie Scheffler is on the brink of an exceptional end to an already remarkable golf season. After claiming the most PGA Tour wins in 15 years, donning the Masters green jacket, and capturing an Olympic gold medal, Scheffler is now a single round away from securing the coveted FedEx Cup and its $25 million prize.
In the Tour Championship at East Lake, Scheffler fired off four birdies in his last five holes on Saturday, carding a 5-under 66, which expanded his lead to five strokes over challenger Collin Morikawa.
Scheffler recalls the pressure well. Two years prior, he squandered a six-shot lead during a soggy final round of this very championship, watching Rory McIlroy surge past him to snatch the trophy.
But this time, he’s focused and determined. “Just keep doing what I’m doing, staying in the moment,” Scheffler remarked, mentioning his resilience even after early stumbles in recent rounds.
Morikawa, who finished with a 67, couldn’t close the gap, ending the day further behind than when he started despite rallying with three birdies over his last four holes. “I still need something very special to come out on top,” Morikawa said, hopeful yet facing an uphill battle.
Scheffler’s stellar performance has him starting at 26-under par, far ahead of the field with no other competitor closer than nine shots.
One player who might have closed in slightly was Sahith Theegala, but a self-reported penalty for barely touching the sand in a bunker on the third hole set him back, turning a par into a double bogey. Nonetheless, Theegala bounced back impressively, carding seven birdies on the back nine to finish with a 66 and trailing by nine.
Morikawa managed to briefly narrow the lead to two early in the round, but Scheffler’s consistent play and a crucial birdie on the seventh kept him comfortably ahead. Although Morikawa acknowledges the challenge of a five-shot gap, he remains committed.
“I’ve got 18 holes left to the season… I’m going to put everything I have into these next 24 hours,” he said.
Despite the pressure, Scheffler is poised and confident about the final round, eager to claim a victory that has eluded him once before. Meanwhile, other players like British Open and PGA champion Xander Schauffele struggled to find their rhythm, falling out of contention.
As the tournament heads into its final day, the stakes couldn’t be higher, not just for the title but also for the significant financial rewards awaiting the top finishers in this elite field.