Scheffler calls PGA Tour’s playoff format ‘stupid’

world number 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler He arrived at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee this week with his recently won Olympic gold medal around his neck.

But as the PGA Tour’s three-event playoffs began Thursday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Scheffler was asked about the trophy that has eluded him so far in his illustrious career: the FedEx Cup.

Based on his full-season performance, Scheffler has started with a starting stroke of 10 under in each of the last two Tour Championships at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, at least two shots better than everyone else.

In 2022, Scheffler carded a 3-over 73 in the final round to lose a six-stroke lead and lose rory mcilroy Last year, Scheffler started at 10 under and managed just 1 under through 72 holes. He finished sixth at 11 under, 16 strokes behind the winner Viktor Hovland,

It’s no surprise that two-time Masters champion Scheffler doesn’t particularly like the Tour’s playoff format.

“I’ve talked about it a lot over the last couple of years, I think it’s silly,” Scheffler said during a news conference at TPC Southwind on Wednesday. “You can’t call it a season-long race and limit it to one tournament.

“Imagine we get to East Lake and my neck starts hurting and it doesn’t get better like it did at the Players. I come in 30th in the FedEx Cup because I had to withdraw from the last tournament? Is this really a race for the whole season? No, that’s the way it is.”

McIlroy, who has won the FedEx Cup a record three times, likes the format because it gives everyone a chance to catch Scheffler over the next three weeks.

With six victories, including four of the eight FedEx Cup major events, Scheffler has 5,993 points. He leads the FedEx Cup standings by nearly 2,000 points. Xander Schauffele (4,057) and more than double McIlroy (2,545).

“I really like this format because if it wasn’t for this format, none of us would have a chance against Scottie because he’s so far ahead,” McIlroy said. “That’s why I really like this format.”

McIlroy admits the Tour Championship is probably not the fairest way to determine the Tour’s season-long champion. But he says it’s probably the best way to make the season-ending tournament interesting for fans.

“I think it makes the Tour Championship even more exciting from a consumer standpoint,” McIlroy said. “Is it the fairest reflection of who the best player of the year has been? Probably not. But I think at this point we’re not completely fair; we’re there for entertainment and trying to put out the best product we can.”

Two FedEx Cup playoff events will be played before the Tour Championship. Scheffler has performed well almost everywhere over the past three seasons, but his results at TPC Southwind have not been very good.

Scheffler hasn’t finished in the top-10 in six starts. He missed the cut in 2022 and finished tied for 31st at 6 under last season.

“It’s hard for me to remember the last couple of years,” Scheffler said. “The scores here are usually low, and I haven’t really hit that low. Why is that, some years I haven’t hit it well, some years I haven’t hit it well. Like I said, I think this is a golf course that should suit me. It’s not too wide. You have to hit good shots. The Bermuda greens are what I grew up on.”

The top 50 golfers in the FedEx Cup points standings following the FedEx St. Jude Championship will advance to next week’s BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado. It’s the Tour’s first stop at that course since 2006.

The top 30 golfers after the first two stages of the FedEx Cup Playoffs will compete in the Tour Championship, where Scheffler will once again start with the lead.

“It’s a fun tournament,” Scheffler said. “I don’t really consider it a season-long race, as it’s called. But you have to figure out a way to balance between being a good TV product and still being a season-long race.

“Right now, I don’t know exactly what the ratings are like or anything like that, but I do know that when it comes to a stroke-play tournament on the same golf course every year, you can’t call it a season-long race.”