This was offered to Tigris. Phil ordered it. And even James the freaking Piot was able to pocket it. But in a tumultuous season that revealed the excessive greed of today’s players, there was a much-needed reminder that competition is best seen by what you’ve accomplished, not what you’ve done. Of course, that hasn’t always been the story of this Tour Championship. Now in its 16th year, the FedExCup Playoffs are endlessly touted by the Tour as the richest prize in golf. And it’s true: The season-long contest offered an additional $75 million in bonus money Sunday to pros who already have deep pockets and keep their financial advisors on speed dial. This year’s edition handed out a record 18 million dollars to the champion – and yet, this impressive figure was not even registered.
BY Golf Channel Digital — August 28, 2022 at 6:18 pm Here’s a look at the full FedExCup bonus money payout, based on finishes from East Lake Golf Club. With a net worth soon to approach a quarter of a billion dollars, Rory McIlroy’s blessed life would not demonstrably change with another eight figures deposited into his account. Nor Scottie Scheffler’s, already in the midst of the richest season in Tour history. the windfall just crossed the mind of the 26-year-old who still drives a 2012 GMC Yukon with 175,000 miles and believes the perfect day consists of morning coffee with his bride and an afternoon cleaning up the yard. “Money is money,” McIlroy said. “It’s great, and we’re professional golfers and we play golf for a living. That’s part of it. But I think at this point in my career, the win and the journey and the emotions and who I did it with mean more than the check.” And McIlroy’s unexpected triumph on Sunday at East Lake was shared not only with caddy Harry Diamond, or his wife Erica, or young daughter Poppy. It was shared by all Tour members who have been scattered and shaken by a changing professional landscape. With the game cracking at an elite level, McIlroy has emerged this year as the Tour’s de facto representative. Now 33, he’s articulate and well-connected, but he also cares deeply about legacy – his own, yes, of course, but also the tour on which he competes. Just last week he spearheaded (along with Tiger Woods) an unprecedented players-only meeting that sought to clearly define the short- and long-term future of a tour under siege like never before. Their final solution wasn’t a new idea – the best players in the world should compete against each other more often – but actually implementing these changes, especially in such a short period of time, felt like a seismic shift and a moment empowerment. “I think the things I’m saying are the right things,” McIlroy said, “and I think when you think the things you’re saying are the right things, you’re happy to put your neck on the line.” McIlroy has never publicly complained about the burden he’s shouldering, but he’s given a glimpse into his tournament week unlike any of the other 29 players in the field here at East Lake. He took part in calls with the PGA Tour Policy Council on Tuesday as they tried to push schedule changes across the finish line. A day later, he immediately followed commissioner Jay Monahan’s press conference, serving as a front man for the top players, before going into businessman mode and unveiling plans for a new, technology-based primetime league to debut in early 2024. . Results across the field from the Tour Championship Every week, all year long, he’s brought a brand new speech to Rory’s State: his thoughts on the next wave of eliminations, his views on the indefinite bans handed out to LIV players, his solutions to how he could eventually to clean up this awful mess. Once that’s over, then, he looks at earnings projections and reassures conflicted players and calls from Tour leadership. And yet, through it all, McIlroy has managed to play some of the best golf of his career this season: a pair of wins, top-10s in every major, Tour leader in strokes gained. “As much as I’m a willing participant in all of this,” he said, “sometimes I need to step away for the sake of my golf game, and I’ve tried to do that.” With his tour duties over by noon on Wednesday, McIlroy was focused on winning one last title, even if, frankly, he didn’t give himself much of a chance. Highlights: Championship round, final round
In staggered start form, he started the week six shots behind Scheffler. By the time McIlroy reached the third tee in the first round, he was already 10 back. But he was proud of his resilience, recalling how, just a few weeks earlier, Tom Kim bounced off a par on the first hole and won a run at Greensboro. McIlroy shot an opening 67 to stay alive and then backed it up with rounds of 67-63. Still, McIlroy started the final round here exactly as he started the event – ​​six back – and faced the unenviable task of chasing down the world No.1. A four-time winner this season, Scheffler is already a lock for Player of the Year and was looking to become the third consecutive top seed to win the FedExCup. Threatening to demolish the field, he raced to a seven-shot lead on Day 2, saw his massive lead dwindle before a weather-suspended third round, then restored his advantage with a flurry of early birdies on Sunday to cruise comfortably at lunch. “I definitely had good momentum,” he said. But that didn’t carry over to the final 18. McIlroy noticed almost immediately that Scheffler was not at his best in the afternoon. On the first hole, Scheffler left his lag putt 6 feet short and then misread the par putt. On the fourth hole, he hit a chip that traveled only 284 yards and led to another bogey. “Those two made me think I probably had a chance,” McIlroy said. Scheffler made just two bogeys through the first 54 holes but three-shotted the first six holes Sunday. McIlroy took a share of the lead for the first time after the seventh hole. By the 16th, he had the lead all to himself for the first time all week. BY Rex Hoggard — August 28, 2022 at 6:50 pm Scottie Scheffler was unable to hold on to the lead he built after the third round at East Lake, hitting only nine of 18 greens in the final round. This led to an awkward conclusion. Scheffler was clearly struggling, in the midst of a historic collapse, squandering not only his $18 million bonus, but the perfect coda to his breakout year. But he got past McIlroy – the fan favourite, the new face of the Tour, the insanely talented player who had dusted off a crushing Open defeat and capitalized on his peak form. And so they cheered and booed. Needing at least a birdie on the home hole, Scheffler dropped his 4-iron into the greenside bunker, then dropped over the green and had to make a 5-footer for par just to secure a share of second place with Sungjae Im. His one-birdie 73 matched the worst score of the day. The stage was clear, McIlroy hit his 3-inch par putt and cruised to victory. In an unmistakable display of empathy, he gave a few restrained punches and turned, almost ruefully, to Scheffler. Later, on the way to the scoring scene, he apologized to Scheffler’s family. “He deserves it,” McIlroy said, hugging Scheffler’s father, Scott. “He’s had an incredible year.” “So are you,” Scott said. “You’ve kicked butt today,” added Scheffler’s wife, Meredith. “Good job.” McIlroy’s final-round 66, combined with Scheffler’s struggles, helped him become the first player to win three FedExCup titles, break out of a tie with (who else?) Woods, and reach the tournament record for most return to the final round. Why is he such a dangerous man in this position? “Because I don’t think about anybody in the field,” he said, “I care less about money.” Scheffler might disagree. He wasn’t dusted afterwards because of the money they lost, or because he had tied the biggest lead ever on Tour. No, it was because he had come so close to another title, another goal achieved, greater prestige and history. He won $5.75 million and was still hurting.
“The money is great, obviously,” he said, “and playing professional golf for a living is such a gift. But for me, I don’t play golf for money. I play to win tournaments and I play to have fun and do my best and see where the game can take me. “Today money definitely didn’t enter my mind – I wanted to win the season title. I’ve had a really great year and I wanted to end it with a win here, and unfortunately I couldn’t. “At the end of the day, it’s such a gift to be out here playing golf for money and I’m very grateful to be out here.” The interview ended, because there was nothing else to say. The most contentious season in tour history ended in unexpected fashion – with grace and humility and the refreshing realization that money can’t buy superstar dreams.