Scheffler, irons and swing path

Scheffler wins FedEx Cup (yawn)

The PGA’s 2024 Tour Championship wrapped up last week with Scottie Sheffler winning the year-long battle for the FedEx Cup. Scheffler pocketed $25 million for the victory, raising his 2024 official earnings to more than $62 million.

I watched the tournament’s final two rounds — at least most of it — and a couple things struck me.

First, there was very little drama for an event where the winner would receive $25 million and be acclaimed as the champion of the 2024 season.

Second, when Scheffler is making putts, he’s the nearest thing to unbeatable. I'm reminded of Tiger Woods in 2000, but without the flair.

Third, where were all the fans? I know it’s hot in Atlanta in late August, but this is the biggest event on the PGA Tour calendar. I was expecting roars to break out all over the property whenever someone made a great shot.

Instead, there were golf claps from a gallery that looked to total in the hundreds on both Saturday and Sunday. I’m sure there were more tucked away in the air-conditioned comfort of corporate pavilions, but the tv cameras couldn’t see them or show them to us.

Growing concern has been voiced by both PGA Tour players and officials about dwindling attendance and viewership. The drop in tv ratings and, to some extent, fan turnout at events in 2024 has been noted as a significant issue for the PGA Tour.

One major factor attributed to these declines is the fracturing of professional golf, particularly the rise of LIV Golf. Many top players, including familiar fan favorites — notably Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka — have joined the Saudi-backed tour, diluting the field for PGA Tour events and affecting the overall product. Players like Rory McIlroy and others have been candid about the impact that this division has had on fan engagement. There’s concern that without some of the game's biggest stars playing consistently on the PGA Tour, it's harder to attract both live audiences and TV viewers.

What does all that mean when discussing the long-term future of professional golf? I’m not sure, but it can’t be good for the PGA Tour.

In this issue

• Hit irons farther and straighter

• Feel swing path with an impact bag

Hit irons farther and straighter

Do you hit your irons fat? Do your iron shots fly very high but also short? Maybe a bit left? In all, do you miss your target too often when hitting your irons?

This week, Alex Elliott shows us a simple downswing move that:

• shifts your weight to your lead foot,

• moves your lead hip 4-6 inches toward the target while

• your lead shoulder goes up.

All of this leads to improved ball compression which means more distance and more consistency.

Follow the step-by-step drills in this video and the quality of your iron game will go up and your scores will go down.

Feel swing path with an impact bag

Golf professional and YouTube golf creator Marcus Edblad says that most amateur golfers have swings that can be described as outside-in. In golf parlance this is swinging over the top and usually produces shots that slice.

Marcus uses an impact bag to show us an over-the-top swing. He also shows us how to see and feel a downswing that attacks the ball from the inside-out.

(Note: you don’t need to buy an impact bag if you don’t have one. I’ve used a sleeping bag still in its storage pouch as an impact bag. A gym bag filled with towels is also serviceable.)

He demonstrates the outside-in swing path on the impact bag. It’s contrived and awkward looking. In fact, Marcus says it’s hard to understand why so many people swing that way. After all, the swing looks and feels counter intuitive.

Marcus also demonstrates the inside-out swing and it appears to be natural and powerful.

Marcus advises you to make an over-the-top swing into the impact bag. Then immediately hit the bag with an inside-out swing.

Then hit the two shots again. And again. Remember the feeling of each of the swings.

Once you’ve done that, tee up a ball and make an inside-out swing. You’ll start hitting the ball better. It will fly straighter and farther.

And you will know and understand the importance of swing path!