Scottie Scheffler on 2025 TOUR Championship: East Lake, New Format & Tiger Woods' Influence

East Lake Course Conditions & Setup

• ⛳ Scottie Scheffler notes the East Lake Golf Club is in good shape with healthy rough and nice greens, expecting a strong test.
• 🎯 He advocates for course setups that reward good shots rather than just focusing on difficulty, ensuring players are punished appropriately for poor shots.
• ⚠️ Scheffler expresses disagreement with the changes to the 18th hole, feeling it no longer rewards good tee shots and creates awkward play, preferring the old design.

FedExCup Format Evolution

• ✅ Scheffler strongly prefers the new FedExCup format where all players start even, believing it's a much simpler and better way to crown a season-long champion.
• 🚫 He was not a fan of the previous starting strokes format, finding it "very weird" and creating undue stress, especially when leading for extended periods.
• 📊 While acknowledging the accomplishment of qualifying, he suggests the current playoff point system might overvalue end-of-year play, potentially creating inconsistencies in rewarding consistent season-long performance.

The Influence of Tiger Woods

• 🧠 Scheffler was profoundly impacted by Tiger Woods' intense focus on every single shot, even when not contending for a win, which he observed during a 2020 Masters round.
• 💡 This experience taught him the importance of bringing maximum intensity to every shot and round, a lesson he strives to emulate in his own game.
• 💬 He finds comparisons to Tiger Woods "silly," emphasizing that Tiger stands alone in golf and his own focus is on being the best version of himself.

Scheffler's Competitive Mindset

• 🔥 Scheffler asserts that if he's playing in a tournament, he's there to compete as hard as he can, never taking shots, rounds, or tournaments off.
• 🛠️ He highlights the crucial role of his caddie, Ted Scott, crediting him for a significant positive shift in his career trajectory and acknowledging his relentless work ethic.
• 🚀 His approach boils down to thorough preparation and a commitment to execution, allowing him to swing freely and focus solely on competition.

Advice for Aspiring Golfers

• 🌱 For high school golfers, Scheffler stresses the importance of preparation—practicing, getting used to the course, gym work, and mental readiness.
• 👏 He encourages them to enjoy the process and the experience of playing with teammates, emphasizing that golf should be fun.