Scottie Scheffler is having an incredible year in the PGA Tour.
With six wins, including his second Major and an Olympic gold medal, 2024 has been extraordinary for him. He has become the first player since Arnold Palmer in 1962 to win six times in a season and set a record with 41 consecutive rounds of par or better. His earnings have also skyrocketed, breaking his own record for most money earned in a single season.
After one round of the Tour Championship, Scheffler set another milestone thanks to FedEx Cup rules. Starting two strokes ahead due to his FedEx Cup lead, he now sits at 16-under after shooting a 65 at East Lake.
Setting New Records:
Scheffler leads by seven strokes over Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa, who both shot impressive rounds themselves. “Scottie Scheffler cards a 6-under 65 and holds a seven-stroke lead after the first round of the TOUR Championship,” reads a tweet from PGA Tour Comms. This makes him the first player to hold such a significant lead after just one round since records began in 1983.
When asked about his approach given his initial advantage, Scheffler said he focused on scoring as low as possible on day one. “Just like any other tournament,” he said, adding that if he had shot two-over par, he’d be far behind regardless of starting with an edge.
Fans might think this news is exciting because it shows how dominant Scheffler is right now.
If Scheffler wins the Tour Championship, he’ll pocket $25 million and push his total earnings for the year past $60 million. This figure could grow even more once Player Impact Program calculations are done later this year.
Even with another win under his belt, Scheffler won’t top the list for most PGA Tour victories in a single season. Players like Tiger Woods and Johnny Miller have eight-win seasons; Vijay Singh and Paul Runyan have nine; Ben Hogan achieved ten wins in 1948 and thirteen two years earlier; Sam Snead took eleven titles in 1950; but Byron Nelson’s record of eighteen wins in one season from 1945 remains untouchable.
What do you think about Scottie’s amazing run?
