Collin Morikawa played exceptionally well this week at the Tour Championship, even outperforming the eventual winner, Scottie Scheffler. Despite officially losing to Scheffler by four strokes, Morikawa beat him by two strokes during the tournament. Another player, Sahith Theegala, also outperformed Scheffler this week. This was the sixth edition of the Tour Championship played under a unique staggered strokes format, where Scheffler started with a two-shot lead at 10 under par, while Morikawa and Theegala started at four and three under, respectively. The format was designed to simplify following the points during the final event and minimize the confusion of one player winning the Tour Championship and another winning the FedEx Cup title.
Scheffler, the FedEx Cup leader for most of the last six months, won the Tour Championship and the $25 million bonus, despite initially expressing reservations about the format. He believed it was unfair for the season-long race to come down to one tournament and expressed concern about the possibility of an injury affecting his overall standing. However, he still managed to win by four strokes over Morikawa. When the starting strokes are removed, the final leaderboard looks different, with Morikawa taking the “gross” title and Theegala coming in second. Despite Scheffler still leading the pack, the order in the leaderboard changes without the starting strokes.
The Tour Championship leaderboard without starting strokes showed Morikawa leading at 22 under, Theegala at 21 under, and Scheffler at 20 under. Other notable players like Justin Thomas had strong performances during the tournament, but their starting positions affected their final standings. Thomas finished tied for 14th despite playing the 7th best among all players at East Lake. The final leaderboard without starting strokes provides a clearer picture of who played well during the tournament, showcasing Morikawa’s impressive performance.
Jack Hirsh, the Golf.com Editor, highlighted the surprising results at the Tour Championship and analyzed the performances of top players like Morikawa, Theegala, and Scheffler. He pointed out the flaws in the staggered strokes format and how it impacted the final outcome. Overall, the tournament provided an exciting conclusion to the FedEx Cup season, with unexpected twists and turns in the standings. Players like Morikawa proved their skills and competitiveness on the course, even if they didn’t walk away with the ultimate prize.
The Tour Championship is a prestigious event in the golf world, attracting top players and offering significant rewards for their performances. The staggering strokes format added a new element of strategy and unpredictability to the tournament, generating excitement among fans and experts alike. Despite initial doubts about the format, players like Scheffler were able to navigate the challenges and emerge victorious, showcasing their resilience and talent on the course. As the golf season comes to a close, the Tour Championship provided a fitting finale with memorable performances and thrilling moments for players and spectators.
