Last-Minute Shock at the FedEx St. Jude: Scottie Scheffler Forced to Swap His Longtime Caddie Right Before the Final Round Due to an Unexpected Incident That Has Fans on Edge!
In a dramatic turn of events at the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship, world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler faced an unexpected challenge just hours before the final round at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. Scheffler’s longtime caddie, Ted Scott, was forced to leave the tournament abruptly due to a family emergency in Louisiana, leaving the top-ranked golfer without his trusted partner for the crucial closing round. The news, first reported by Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, sent shockwaves through the golfing community, with fans anxiously awaiting updates on how Scheffler would adapt to this last-minute change.
Scheffler, who has enjoyed a stellar season with six PGA Tour victories and an Olympic gold medal, was in strong contention heading into Sunday, sitting at 12-under par and just two shots behind leader Tommy Fleetwood. His partnership with Scott, which began in late 2021, has been a cornerstone of his success, with Scott on the bag for all 17 of Scheffler’s PGA Tour wins, including four major championships. The sudden absence of such a key figure raised questions about how Scheffler would navigate the pressure-packed final round without his usual support.
In a swift response to the crisis, Scheffler turned to Brad Payne, a close friend and PGA Tour chaplain, to fill in as his caddie. Payne, who resides in Dallas and has a longstanding relationship with Scheffler, drove to Memphis on Saturday night to be ready for the Sunday round. This isn’t the first time Payne has stepped in for Scott; he previously caddied for Scheffler during the third round of the 2024 PGA Championship when Scott attended his daughter’s high school graduation. That day, Scheffler struggled, posting a 73, though he attributed the performance to external factors rather than Payne’s inexperience.
Despite the disruption, Scheffler remained focused, with his tee time set for 1:30 p.m. ET alongside J.J. Spaun. Payne, who has caddied for multiple players and serves as president of the College Golf Fellowship, brings a calming presence and familiarity with Scheffler’s game. Two other Tour caddies with early tee times even approached Scheffler’s coach, Randy Smith, to offer their services, highlighting the camaraderie within the golfing world. However, Scheffler’s decision to go with Payne underscores the trust and personal connection between the two.
As Scheffler aims for his fifth win of the season and a strong start to the FedEx Cup playoffs, fans are on edge, wondering if he can maintain his remarkable consistency without Scott by his side. With a top-10 finish in his last 12 starts, Scheffler’s talent is undeniable, but the emotional and strategic void left by Scott’s absence adds an intriguing layer of uncertainty. The golf world will be watching closely as Scheffler and Payne take on TPC Southwind, hoping to overcome this last-minute shock and keep Scheffler’s historic season on track.
