Caddie substitution for Scottie Scheffler in the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship: What's the reason?
In an unexpected turn of events, Brad Payne, a PGA Tour chaplain and close friend of Scottie Scheffler, will be taking over as Scheffler's caddie for the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis.
Ted Scott, Scheffler's regular caddie, had to leave unexpectedly to attend to a family emergency in Louisiana. This family matter has kept Scott away from the tournament, marking a rare absence for the caddie who has been with Scheffler since late 2021, including carrying the bag for all 17 of Scheffler's PGA Tour wins.
Payne, a former collegiate golfer at Pepperdine who had three top three finishes in the West Coast Conference Men's Golf Championship from 1989-1991, has filled in for Scheffler before. Most notably, he caddied for him during the third round of the 2024 PGA Championship. On that day, Scheffler carded a one-over-par 73, and Payne finished the tournament in a tie for eighth place.
Despite the change, Scheffler remains a favourite to win the final round. He currently stands at 12-under-par, two shots behind the leader, Tommy Fleetwood, who is at 14-under-par.
Scheffler has spoken with Scott since his departure and confirmed that his family is in good spirits. However, there is no word yet on when Scott might return to caddying.
Payne, who is also a chaplain to PGA Tour players through his role with College Golf Fellowship, has caddied for several players on the PGA Tour, not only Scheffler. His role as a mentor and friend to Scheffler both on Tour and at home in Dallas is well-known.
As the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship unfolds, all eyes will be on Scheffler and Payne as they navigate the course together. The outcome promises to be an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
Brad Payne, a former collegiate golfer, will continue his role as a caddie for Scottie Scheffler in the final round, a reprisal of their collaboration during the 2024 PGA Championship's third round. Even with the change, Scheffler maintains his position as a strong contender in the golf tournament, with his 12-under-par score keeping him close to the leader, Tommy Fleetwood.
