Scottie Scheffler has a New Year’s carrot dangling in front of him when the Tournament of Champions begins tomorrow at Kapalua.
With world No. 1 Rory McIlroy using his one-time exemption to skip a designated event, Scheffler has the stage to himself and can reclaim the No. 1 world ranking come Sunday.
All Scheffler has to do is finish solo third or better. But that’s not an easy feat considering the quality of the field at the Plantation Course.
With McIlroy not there and defending champion Cam Smith defecting to the LIV series as well as Shane Lowry choosing to skip the trip to Hawaii, there are still 17 of the world’s top 20 on site this week.
Scheffler lost the No. 1 spot to McIlroy when Rory won the CJ Cup in October of 2022. Last season, the world No. 1 changed hands three times. Jon Rahm began the season as No. 1, Scheffler moved to the top after his March victory at the WGC Match Play in Austin.
(Tee Times are Eastern Standard Time)
Television Schedule:
Thursday-Friday: ESPN-Plus: 2:15-6 p.m. (EST); The Golf Channel: 6 p.m.-10 p.m. (EST)
Saturday-Sunday: ESPN-Plus: 12:45 – 4 p.m. (EST); NBC: 4-6 p.m. (EST); The Golf Channel: 6-8 p.m. (EST)
Patrick Cantlay Reiterates Stance On LIV:
Rumors were running wild, as they always do when it comes to the LIV exhibition/circus late last year.
Those rumors had both Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay running away from the PGA Tour to join “the circus.”
Schauffele shot the rumors down several times toward the end of 2022.
Now Cantlay is reiterating that he’s not going anywhere.
“I think it’s because I haven’t been too vocal one way or the other.” Cantlay said at Kapalua as to why he thinks he’s been fodder for the rumors. “So, I think that’s probably where it is. Guys, for the most part, seem like they’re pretty polarized on this issue, and I view it as it’s been a competition for top talent, like any other business.
“But I have no plans to do that as of now, which has been my stance for, you know, basically since the whole time.”
Notice that “as of now” part of it.
