As the sun dipped below the Atlanta skyline and the final putt rolled in, the PGA Tour season came to a fitting end, as Scottie Scheffler romped home to secure a historic Tour Championship victory.
However, Scheffler didn’t just win. He made a clear statement, showcasing a masterclass in consistency and composure that has firmly cemented his place as world number one.
A strong start
Scheffler entered the Tour Championship already ahead of the pack, starting with a two-shot advantage at 10-under-par thanks to his lead in the FedExCup standings. And, from the very first round, he made it clear that he had no intention of relinquishing it.
Carding a blistering 6-under 65, Scheffler extended his advantage to a remarkable seven-shot lead—the largest 18-hole advantage on record since the TOUR adopted the Starting Strokes format in 2019.
It was a performance that set the tone for the tournament and left his competitors scrambling to keep up. Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele shared the runner-up spot at 9-under, but even they seemed overshadowed by Scheffler’s ever-commanding presence.
Scheffler’s 65 was tied for his lowest score in 17 career rounds at the TOUR Championship, matching his first rounds in 2022 and 2023.
Rounds two and three
As the tournament progressed, Scheffler continued to build on his lead with unrelenting precision.
In the second round, a steady 5-under 66 kept him four shots ahead of Morikawa, who surged with a sensational 63 to secure second place.
Yet, Scheffler was unfazed. This was his fifteenth career 36-hole lead, and the fifth time this year alone.
By the third round, any doubts about Scheffler’s grip on the championship were beginning to fade.
Another methodical 66 saw him take a five-shot lead into the final day. There were echoes of the 2022 Tour Championship, where he led by six shots going into the final round, only to falter and finish second.
But this time, there was a different air about him—a calm focus that seemed impervious to the ghosts of past disappointments.
Meanwhile, the competition behind him was scoring well. Morikawa remained a constant threat, finishing the third round five shots behind after a solid 67.
Sahith Theegala emerged as a surprise contender heading into the final day, leaping into third place with back-to-back 66s. Xander Schauffele, another consistent performer, hung in there at 16-under, but even his steady hand wasn’t enough to catch the runaway leader.
Sealing the deal
Having dealt with heartbreak in 2022 and 2023, Scheffler was locked in.
The world number one maintained his composure and delivered a wire-to-wire victory, carding a final round of 4-under to finish 30-under-par for the tournament, becoming just the second player to win the TOUR Championship in this fashion since the Starting Strokes format was introduced in 2019.
Theegala and Morikawa were the closest competitors, keeping Scheffler on his toes with rounds of 7-under and 5-under, respectively, but it wasn’t to be for the chasing pack.
With this victory, Scheffler not only claimed his seventh PGA TOUR title of the season—a feat matched only by Tiger Woods since 2007—but also etched his name in the history books as the second player to win both THE PLAYERS Championship and the FedExCup in the same season, an accomplishment last achieved by Rory McIlroy in 2019.
Moreover, he became the first player to ever win THE PLAYERS, a major championship, and the FedExCup in a single season. His achievement of holding the Olympic gold medal and FedExCup title simultaneously further adds to an immensely successful season.
A historic season
Scheffler’s triumph at the 2024 TOUR Championship is the culmination of a season that saw him rise to new heights.
Holding the No. 1 position in the FedExCup standings for a record 25 consecutive weeks, he demonstrated a level of consistency and dominance rarely seen since the days of Tiger.
His win marked a 13th career PGA TOUR title, making him the 84th player to reach that milestone and placing him alongside contemporary greats like Jason Day and Jordan Spieth.
The 28-year-old has also set a new benchmark for earnings, with a staggering $29.2 million in official prize money—breaking records for the third consecutive year.
Add to that the FedExCup bonus and Comcast Business TOUR Top 10 bonus, and his total earnings for the year amass a whopping $62.2 million.
Looking ahead
Scheffler’s comparisons to a prime Tiger Woods are inevitable, but the world number one seems determined to write his own story.
With 103 weeks as the World No. 1 — the fifth-most since the inception of the Official World Golf Ranking in 1986 — he’s already cemented himself as one of the greats.
And though the 2024 season may be over, the battle for supremacy in the world of golf is just beginning. As the dust settles at East Lake, one thing is clear: Scottie Scheffler is the man to beat, and the world will be watching.
