Will the Third Time Be the Charm for Scottie Scheffler at the Tour Championship?

Scottie Scheffler has virtually done it all over the past few years:

Masters winner? Check (twice).

PGA Tour money leader? Check.

Olympic gold medal? Check.

Profound emotions for Scottie Scheffler hearing the Star-Spangled Banner after winning Olympic gold.

Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/kgsOVOBZjD

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 4, 2024

FedEx Cup champion? Nope.

Despite leading the FedEx Cup standings going into the final event of the season in each of the past two years, Scheffler entered the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta with the biggest head start in starting strokes but failed to capture the championship.

This year, he again will have a two-stroke lead before the tournament even starts, sitting atop the leaderboard at -10. Xander Schaffele, who figures to be Scheffler’s top competition, will start at -8, and it goes down from there.

Two years ago, Scheffler finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy. Last year, he was further back – coming home in sixth behind Viktor Hovland and several others.

In fact, Scheffler hasn’t won a FedEx Cup playoff event yet in his career.

It has led some to wonder whether he’s motivated to win the season-long championship.

But it seems silly that Scheffler wouldn’t be motivated by the accolade, which comes with a $25 million prize.

12-time winner, Olympic gold medalist and two-time Masters champ Scottie Scheffler always dreamed of becoming a pro golfer.

: shares the behind-the-scenes story behind his successful career and interviews with his father and longtime trainer. pic.twitter.com/5b7oRB4UmI

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 26, 2024

After finishing fourth two weeks ago at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, he had his second-worst finish of the season at the BMW Championship, coming home in 33^rd.

Despite that, he is the favorite to win at East Lake, trending at around +105 at most major sportsbooks.

Cover Image via The Independent