Scheffler caps comeback with Tour Championship triumph, eclipses Woods' career earnings
Scottie Scheffler shot a final-round 66 to overtake Viktor Hovland and win the Tour Championship at East Lake, finishing at 16 under par. The victory, his third of the season, came after he started the day three strokes back and included a $10 million prize. That payout pushed his career earnings past Tiger Woods' longstanding PGA Tour record of $120,199,166.
Scheffler’s final-round 66 featured six birdies against two bogeys, while most of the chasing pack faltered. He began Sunday three shots behind Hovland, who missed key birdie chances on the 15th and 16th before bogeying the 17th. The win marked Scheffler’s third of 2026, following January’s American Express title and the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
The $10 million first-place prize pushed his career earnings past Woods’ $120,199,166, a record Woods had held since February 2000. Notably, this Tour Championship was played under the new all-level start format, introduced in 2025, replacing the previous “starting strokes” system that had aided Scheffler’s 2024 victory.
Scheffler’s record earnings and third win of the season could reinforce his standing as golf’s dominant figure, potentially influencing sponsor decisions and broadcast interest. His comeback victory may also validate the PGA Tour’s recent format changes, as a level playing field produced a dramatic final round. For fans, the milestone invites comparisons to Woods’ legacy, though career earnings reflect modern prize inflation more than direct achievement. Casual viewers may see this as a passing of a financial torch, while purists might debate the meaning of such records.