Scheffler takes commanding five-shot lead into final round
ATLANTA—Scottie Scheffler is 18 holes away from his first FedEx Cup championship after shooting a five-under-par 66 to lead Collin Morikawa by five strokes after 54 holes of the Tour Championship on Saturday at East Lake Golf Club.
“Keep doing what I’ve been doing, staying in the moment, staying patient out there,” Scheffler said of his final round strategy where a cool $25 million awaits the champion. “I’ve bogeyed the first hole two of the last three days, and both times when I bogeyed the first hole I didn’t make any bogeys after that, so that’s kind of good momentum for me.”
The world No. 1 entered the Tour Championship leading the FedEx Cup race for the third consecutive year. Scheffler was overtaken for the title by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland in 2022 and Viktor Hovland of Norway in 2023.
But now, he is putting the finishing touches on one of the best seasons in recent PGA Tour history. If Scheffler finishes the job on Sunday, he’ll be the first player to win seven times in a season since Tiger Woods in 2007.
Way behind
Morikawa fired a 67 and rued missing the chance to cut Scheffler’s imposing lead.
“Not exactly the moving day that I needed, but I knew this entire week I was going to need something special to come out on top and I’m going to need something very special (in the final round),” the two-time major champion said. “But I believe in myself, and hopefully that comes out (on Sunday).”
Xander Schauffele began the day in third place at 16 under and only managed a level 71. Sahith Theegala surpassed him for third, birdieing his last five holes and seven of his last eight for a 66 to leap to 17 under.
