ATLANTA – Scottie Scheffler usually is the one giving strokes when he plays at home in Dallas at Royal Oaks Country Club.
“I’m typically playing to a plus 7. I used to be a plus 5. They moved me to a plus 7,” he said on Tuesday at his pre-tournament press conference ahead of the Tour Championship, the final leg of the FedEx Cup. “So now we’ve got guys in the group that are getting like two strokes a hole. I typically still will win more often than not, but it’s just fun. It’s just entertaining.”
This week, at East Lake Golf Club, Scheffler is the beneficiary of a handicap of sorts, starting at 10-under with a two-stroke head start over his nearest competitor, Xander Schauffele, and as many as 10 strokes ahead of the 30th man in the season-long standings, Justin Thomas, in the staggered-start scoring to the tournament.
“Scottie starting ahead, I don’t even know the words for that,” said Sam Burns, who starts six strokes back at 4-under and T-6. “He doesn’t need any more help than how good he already is.”
Scheffler, who tied for 33rd in the 50-man field at last week’s BMW Championship, voiced his displeasure with the FedEx Cup format two weeks ago in Memphis, calling it “silly,” but he didn’t object to taking a lead into the start of the FedEx Cup finale for the third straight year.
“I want every stroke that I can get this week. I’ve experienced it on the other side, and I would much rather start a tournament with a lead than start it behind. It’s as simple as that,” he said. “This is the best opportunity that I’ll have in my career probably to win a golf tournament. I’m starting two strokes ahead of second place. That’s a pretty cool place to be, really.”
He’s the first player to enter the Tour Championship at No. 1 in the standings in three consecutive years. Despite the head start, he’s failed to win from the pole position the last two years, finishing T-2 in 2022 and T-6 in 2023.
Scottie Scheffler hits his second shot on the fifth hole during the third round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
“I think we need a season-long race. I think the FedEx Cup has been really good for our Tour and for the game. I think it’s something exciting to finish off the year,” Scheffler said. “In terms of the season-long race, it’s maybe not always going to be the guy that plays the best the whole season; it’s…
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