(Photo credit score: Mike Frey-Imagn Images)
MEMPHIS — Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 golfer on this planet, enters the FedEx St. Jude Championship — the primary leg of the season-ending PGA Tour playoffs — on a profitable stretch. Scheffler will probably be coming off 11 consecutive top-10 finishes.
With that momentum, which incorporates final month’s Open title, Scheffler has dealt with the FedEx Cup playoffs preparation a bit in another way than he would have for an occasion earlier within the season. For Scheffler, at this stage of the golf yr, he is discovering that much less is healthier.
‘That additional observe is perhaps solely going to be draining for me somewhat bit, and that is one thing that I’ve discovered to handle as my profession has gone on,’ he stated Wednesday from TPC Southwind, web site of the St. Jude Championship. ‘I’d say my prep week final week undoubtedly seemed a bit totally different than it will have seemed earlier than the Scottish Open and undoubtedly seemed somewhat bit totally different than it will have seemed in the event you return to the start of the yr after I was coming off damage.
‘So ensuring I’m rested, able to play. My recreation is in a great spot, and I really feel like some additional observe at this level within the yr can nearly be detrimental by way of simply bodily and psychological fatigue.’
The opening match of the playoffs options 69 of the highest 70 golfers within the FedEx Cup standings, together with Scheffler, defending champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and resurgent Justin Thomas. Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy determined to skip the primary leg and is the one eligible golfer among the many high 70 sitting out the match.
With 4 wins this season, together with two victories in majors, Scheffler is among the many favorites. Expected to earn a fourth straight PGA Tour Player of the Year award, he’s trying ahead to taking part in on a TPC Southwind course that underwent renovation after final yr’s St. Judge Championship concluded.
Each of the 18 greens was rebuilt and resurfaced. The tee bins have been additionally resurfaced, and Bermuda grass across the greens was changed by tightly mowed Zeon Zoysia.
‘They did a very good job, I believe, with the runoff areas across the greens right here,’ Scheffler stated. ‘The new greens proper now are actually agency. I believe it is a golf course that is usually been fairly standard on Tour, so I appreciated they did not are available in once they renovated it and simply fully change the golf course.
‘I believe that they had a extremely good base for a strong golf course the place ball-striking is essential. You’ve received to hit it effectively round this place. I believe they did a extremely good job. The golf course is wholesome. They saved the DNA of what is made this course actually good after which enhanced it with a few of the pitching areas.’
Harris English, having fun with the perfect yr of his profession, returns to the location of his first PGA Tour victory. He gained the occasion when it was a part of the regular-season schedule in 2013.
‘After taking part in (observe rounds) the final couple days, the enhancements clearly with the brand new greens, the greens are actually agency,’ English stated. ‘I really feel just like the tough is up from years previous. Even (Wednesday), hitting some balls within the tough, it is laborious to search out them. You get this gnarly Bermuda tough, it is so laborious to determine if it’ll bounce, if it’ll come out lifeless.
McIlroy’s absence has created some off-course controversy. He will simply qualify for the second stage of the playoffs subsequent week on the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club close to Baltimore, however PGA Tour officers are involved he elected to bypass the primary leg.
Those who end Sunday ranked within the high 50 not solely transfer on to Baltimore however are additionally eligible for every of the eight PGA Tour signature occasions in 2025.
–Phil Stukenborg, Field Level Media