Who's it going to be? Scheffler and Morikawa set to battle it out for the Tour Championship Title

By: Brooks Latta | 09/01/2024

It all comes down to this. The final round of the PGA Tour Championship is set to unfold at East Lake, bringing the 2024 season to an exhilarating close. All eyes are on the two men who seem destined to battle for the title: Scottie Scheffler, who sits atop the leaderboard at an astounding -26, and Collin Morikawa, hot on his heels at -21.

The rest of the field appears too far back, with more than nine shots separating them from the top spot. It’s a tough mountain to climb, especially when Scheffler and Morikawa have been playing lights out all week.

Scottie Scheffler entered the third round holding a four-shot lead and managed to extend it by carding a 5-under 66, bringing him to a total of -26 heading into the final round. He’s in prime position to become just the second wire-to-wire champion since the Starting Strokes format was introduced in 2019, following in the footsteps of Patrick Cantlay in 2021. Scheffler has been remarkably consistent, shooting rounds of 65-66-66, and his position at -26 includes a -10 starting advantage due to his FedExCup standings.

Collin Morikawa, meanwhile, recorded a third-round 67 to remain in solo second as he enters the final round. His previous best standing entering the final round of the Tour Championship was T3 in 2023, but this time he’s in a stronger position. With six top-five finishes on the PGA Tour this season, Morikawa is looking to secure his first victory since the 2023 ZOZO Championship. He’s shot rounds of 66-63-67, and his total of -21 includes a -4 starting position due to his FedExCup ranking.

So, let the two-man battle begin, and let’s see what unfolds at East Lake, where anything can happen. Scottie Scheffler has never been able to hold onto the lead at the Tour Championship despite starting with it in both 2022 and 2023. Will he falter again? The rest of the field certainly hopes so.

Theegala Would Be More in the Hunt if Not for This

Sahith Theegala sits at -17 as he prepares for the final round of the Tour Championship. If it hadn’t been for a two-stroke penalty he called on himself for his club touching the sand during his backswing, he would be much closer to the leaders at -19, just seven shots off the lead. Now, being nine shots behind, it might be too much to overcome.

Give credit to Theegala for his integrity. He self-reported the infraction despite no clear video evidence showing it. He instinctively felt it and was quoted as saying, "Your intuition as a golfer is very rarely wrong." Check out the interview and footage here:

The Craziest Thing OTD Saw Saturday

Scottie Scheffler was on fire in the third round, going shot for shot with Collin Morikawa all day. They were trading blows like prizefighters.

But what Scheffler pulled off from the woodline on hole No. 17 was something to behold. There was so much intrigue around the setup for this shot that the caddies were actually flipping tees to see who would go first between Scheffler and Morikawa, who was safely in the fairway. This moment highlighted the difficulty of Scottie’s position and his desire to see how Collin’s shot would play out before making his own shot selection.

What Scheffler did was remarkable. He took the shot off the mulch and roots, navigating it around a tree, and placed it within feet of the pin—a shot that will be remembered for years to come.

Some Great Pictures from the Day

Check out these captivating shots from round 3 at East Lake Golf Club, captured by OTD Sports.

Wrap-Up

As the final round approaches, the question on everyone’s mind is simple: Who will emerge victorious? Will Scottie Scheffler finally hold onto his lead and claim the Tour Championship, or will Collin Morikawa stage a dramatic comeback to take the title? With only these two realistically in the hunt, all eyes will be on East Lake to see who can deliver under the intense pressure. It’s a two-man race, and only one will leave with the coveted trophy.