Scottie Scheffler will compete in the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship without his regular caddie, Ted Scott, who has returned home to Louisiana due to a family emergency, as reported by Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis. Scott left Memphis on Saturday evening, and Brad Payne, the PGA Tour’s chaplain, will step in to carry Scheffler’s bag for the final round.
Payne is familiar with Scheffler’s game, having caddied for him during the third round of last year’s PGA Championship while Scott attended his daughter’s graduation. Payne traveled from Dallas to Memphis on Saturday night to assist Scheffler.
In a show of camaraderie, several caddies reached out to Scheffler and his coach, Randy Smith, to offer their help in light of Scott’s absence. Scheffler will tee off at 1:30 p.m. EDT, starting two shots behind the current leader, Tommy Fleetwood. As the world No. 1 and with the season’s fifth victory in sight, Scheffler is well-positioned regardless of the day’s outcome, ensuring he maintains his lead in the FedExCup standings heading into the upcoming BMW Championship.
This situation highlights the supportive nature of the golf community, demonstrating how fellow competitors come together in times of need. Scheffler’s ability to focus on his game, even amid such changes, reflects his resilience as he continues to aim for the top of the leaderboard.