Scottie Scheffler admits the current format beats the old system, but the math still makes his head hurt.

Here’s what actually matters: fighting tooth and nail to crack that top 30 and earn your ticket to East Lake. That’s where the real season-long grind happens – guys sweating bullets in August trying to avoid missing out on the $20 million prize pool. The race to get IN is legitimate; what happens once you’re there is basically Monopoly money redistribution.

Scottie’s $10 Million Head Start

Before anyone even tees it up at the Tour Championship, Scheffler already pocketed $10 million for leading the regular season standings. That’s his reward for actually winning the “season-long race” part. Everything at East Lake is just bonus money with extra theatrics. Hard to complain about double-dipping when the checks clear.

Why The Old System Was Worse

Remember when they used to give stroke advantages based on FedEx Cup position? Scheffler’s right – that was straight-up sandbagging. Starting two shots ahead before you even swing a club made for terrible TV and felt manufactured. At least now everyone starts even and the best player over four days wins, even if the points system is still wonky.

The Two-Tournament Problem

What we really have is two separate competitions masquerading as one. There’s the actual season-long race (which Scottie dominated and got paid for), and then there’s the Tour Championship, which is just a really expensive exhibition with FedEx Cup branding slapped on top. Both are fine independently, but calling them the same thing is where it gets messy.

The Money Makes It Worth The Confusion

Players aren’t complaining too loudly because the purse keeps growing. When you’re potentially playing for $25 million total, you’ll deal with whatever point system the tour dreams up. It’s like arguing about Monopoly rules while someone’s handing out real hundred-dollar bills.

The Bottom Line

Scheffler’s threading the needle perfectly – acknowledging the current format is better while still calling out the “season-long race” marketing speak. He already won the real race and got his $10 million. Everything else is just a very expensive victory lap, and he’s honest enough to say it.