Scottie Scheffler is proving that even second place can put you in first—at least when it comes to the FedEx Cup points race. After a remarkable stretch of three consecutive runner-up finishes, the world No. 1 has climbed back to the top of the PGA Tour's season-long standings, setting the stage for an exciting run toward the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Scheffler's latest second-place showing came at the Cadillac Championship, where he finished behind Cameron Young. That result, combined with his previous runners-up to Matt Fitzpatrick at the RBC Championship, has given him a slim but significant lead in the points race. He now sits 34 points ahead of Fitzpatrick and 60 points clear of Young. It's a tight margin, but in golf, every point counts.
Interestingly, Scheffler briefly lost the top spot after Fitzpatrick and his brother Alex won the Zurich Classic. But with Fitzpatrick sitting out the event at Doral, Scheffler was able to reclaim the lead. Now, all eyes are on the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, where Scheffler has chosen to take a week off to rest before defending his title at the PGA Championship near Philadelphia. That's a bold move, especially considering he won the 2025 Truist Championship by a dominant five strokes over Harris English.
With Scheffler absent, Fitzpatrick and Young are the only players who can overtake him this week. The winner at Quail Hollow will earn 700 points, and while No. 4 Collin Morikawa sits 704 points behind Scheffler, the math makes it clear: the top spot is still within reach for a few contenders.
The points list also saw some notable movers after the Cadillac Championship. Lucas Glover jumped 38 spots from 147th to 109th after a tie for 14th, while Ben Griffin surged 32 spots to No. 33 following a tie for third. Alex Noren, Alex Smalley, Adam Scott, and Denny McCarthy also made significant gains, proving that strong performances can reshape the standings in a hurry.
As the PGA Tour heads into a crucial stretch, Scheffler's decision to rest could be a masterstroke—or a gamble. Either way, the race for FedEx Cup glory is heating up, and with the PGA Championship just around the corner, the next few weeks promise plenty of drama.