Scottie Scheffler is aiming to assert his first FedExCup title this week in Atlanta the place he begins the Tour Championship with a two-stroke benefit on the sector, giving him his “best opportunity” to win.
The Tour Championship’s staggered construction means Scheffler, the chief within the FedExCup factors standings, will begin the event at 10 underneath par, whereas his nearest pursuer Xander Schauffele begins at eight underneath at East Lake Golf Membership. It’s the third consecutive yr Scheffler has entered the Tour Championship at No 1.
The world No 1 has received six tournaments on the PGA Tour this yr, together with The Masters and Gamers Championship, in addition to including an Olympic gold medal for good measure.
“Yeah, it’s good to be back. In a nice position going into the week,” Scheffler stated.
“It’s obviously everybody’s goal at the beginning of the year to have a chance, and going in the first spot, no better opportunity than where I’m sitting. Looking forward to the week.”
For the reason that format modified in 2019, no participant who has began the Tour Championship on the prime the leaderboard has gone on to win it, however Scheffler believes the staggered format offers volatility to the sport.
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“If you want to just have a player that’s playing the best at the end of the year, I think the Playoffs will definitely identify that player. 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 going to be the guy that plays the best in these Playoff events,” Scheffler added.
“That’s really what you’re identifying is the guy that plays the best in these last three events. It’s a format that’s changed a bunch or a few times over the past few years.
“When it comes to when it first received began you had a yr the place I feel it was Padraig Harrington received two majors and possibly did not make the BMW, and I do know he did not make this event. So arguably it wasn’t actually an ideal set-up then.
“I think it provides a little bit of volatility, which is good for the fans, and I think it’s also good for some players that didn’t have their best years leading up to get into the Playoffs, and all of a sudden turn a year that’s not their best into somewhat of a career year in terms of winning the FedExCup.
“A whole lot of volatility, however on the finish of the day, golf is golf. The best technique to resolve a problem that you do not like within the sport of golf is to play higher. That is actually all it comes right down to in our sport. On the finish of the day, for those who play adequate golf, it can handle itself.”
Plenty of changes at East Lake
The 30-man field will be playing on a dramatically different course at East Lake after it underwent an extensive renovation by architect Andrew Green, who most notably refurbished Oak Hill for the PGA Championship last year.
Green used 1949 aerials of East Lake in restoring the course that dates to 1904 with every tee, fairway, green and bunker being rebuilt.
The bunkers around the 18th green are deep. The bunker left of the peninsula green on the par-three 15th has been removed. The eighth hole has been shortened and the 14th hole has been lengthened and now plays as a par-five.
The changes also include replacing the circular putting surfaces with unique slopes and shapes and there is also more movement in the fairways as well as added humps and hollows.
“The renovation is unquestionably fascinating,” added Scheffler.
“It is principally a brand new golf course from what it was earlier than. It is not likely in any respect the identical. The greens, since they’re new, are extraordinarily agency, which I feel makes it tougher.
“It’ll be tough to access some of the hole locations. I think we’ll have a bit to learn in terms of golf course set-up.
“However general we’ll see the way it performs. It is so new proper now that it is actually laborious to inform precisely how – all I do know is it is manner totally different.
“This was a golf course I always really liked. I felt like I hadn’t played my best golf here. So coming here this year, seeing a fresh golf course that I think is going to be really challenging I think will suit me pretty well out there.”
Schauffele: New course will convey totally different challenges
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Watch all six of Xander Schauffele’s birdies from the ultimate spherical of The Open at Royal Troon as he claimed a second main title
Schauffele already has two majors within the bag this yr after successful The Open and PGA Championship and has a great document at East Lake, however he admits the brand new course will convey challenges.
“I mean, it’s just a new golf course. Kind of a glass half full guy, so I’ve played a lot of new courses this year that I’ve done okay at, and this is a brand new property,” Schauffele stated.
“Literally the bunkers are new, the grasses are new in the fairways, the greens are new, the grass on the greens are new, the runouts are different, the slopes are different. I think the only thing that’s the same are the directions of the hole.
“No matter document I had is the previous. I’ve no reminiscence or something actually on any gap to go off of, not even a tree I may goal at that I used to goal at. It is simply that totally different.
“It’s new. It’s firm. It’s fast. Needs to settle in. It’s a very brand new – I’m not huge in agronomy, but I’ve played some new courses before, and they’re a little bouncy.
“Nevertheless it was designed to be performed, it may be a bit bit totally different for the primary two years simply because it hasn’t settled in.”
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