Scottie Scheffler is on the verge of his first FedExCup title after extending his lead to five shots heading into the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake. The Masters champion started the weekend with a four-shot advantage, building on prior rounds of 65 and 66. Despite a slow start in his third round, Scheffler managed to regain momentum and increase his lead over Collin Morikawa.
A rocky beginning included an early bogey that trimmed his lead to two strokes. However, Scheffler bounced back with consecutive birdies starting from the seventh hole, finishing with a five-under par 66 and bringing his total to a remarkable 26 under. This performance boosts his chances of securing a record seventh PGA Tour victory this season.
Morikawa, paired with Scheffler on the final day, salvaged his round with three birdies in his last four holes to settle at a score of 67. Meanwhile, Sahith Theegala surged into third place with a stunning five-birdie finish, totaling 17 under, just ahead of Xander Schauffele.
Scheffler faced challenges early on, bogeying the par-four first hole for the second time in three days, which allowed Morikawa to close the gap. Despite a brief scare when Morikawa made an eight-foot birdie at the sixth hole, Scheffler regained his footing with a two-shot swing on the next hole.
The lead pair continued to exchange pars before Scheffler made a critical 20-foot birdie at the par-five 14th, while Morikawa faced a three-putt that left him trailing by five. Both players remained steady, trading birdies and pars through the back nine, with Scheffler further extending his lead by sinking a birdie at the 16th.
Morikawa, undeterred by the five-shot deficit, expressed optimism about his chances. “Five shots is a lot, but two-shot swings happen. I’ve just got to play my game. I’ve got 18 holes left to the season – I’m going to put everything I have into these next 24 hours,” he said.
As the tournament progressed, Xander Schauffele’s hopes faded due to two bogeys within his opening four holes. He finished with a level-par 71, leaving him ten shots behind Scheffler. Meanwhile, Theegala stole the spotlight with a remarkable performance, calling a penalty on himself in the round and securing an impressive seven birdies in his last eight holes, positioning him third.
Wyndham Clark and Adam Scott share fifth place at 15 under, followed closely by Sam Burns. Shane Lowry made headlines with the lowest round of the day, a six-under 65, moving him to eighth. Rory McIlroy is tied for tenth at 11 under after carding 68 in the third round.
As the Tour Championship concludes, excitement builds over who will take home the FedExCup trophy. Fans can watch the thrilling finale live.
