On February 13, 2000, Tiger Woods first ascended to the top of the PGA Tour’s all-time career earnings list after a runner-up finish at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines. Over two decades later, he still holds the crown, having amassed a record $120,999,166 in official career earnings. But now, his throne is under threat. Scottie Scheffler is closing in on Woods’ mark and could take over as the PGA Tour’s all-time leading money winner this week at the Tour Championship. With history within reach, how does Scheffler feel about surpassing Woods?

“You’re kind of comparing apples and oranges, but I think a lot of the success we’ve had out here, especially when you look at it from a financial perspective, Tiger has a lot to do with that,” Scheffler said when a reporter asked about it at Wednesday’s press conference. “As I said, it’s apples and oranges. The reason our purses are so large today is because of the influence and impact that Tiger had on the game.

“I wouldn’t really consider that a Tiger record being broken. I think it’s more… just shows one of the many effects he had on the game of golf in a positive way. Like, the TOUR is only getting more competitive as it goes forward, and I think that’s part of kind of how he played the game.”

In just eight years since turning pro, Scheffler’s official PGA Tour career earnings stand at a staggering $120,390,661 following last week’s BMW Championship, putting him just over $600,000 behind Woods’ record. Should Scheffler win this week’s Tour Championship, he would pocket a staggering $10 million and easily move into the No. 1 spot on the all-time career earnings list. 

In fact, he doesn’t even need to win. A top-eight finish would get him $1,065,000, enough to push his career earnings past Woods. Hot on Scheffler’s heels is Rory McIlroy, who currently sits at $117,848,372 in career earnings. The Northern Irishman faces a considerably tougher path to the top, needing to earn more than $3 million this week to surpass Woods. 

McIlroy would likely need to win the Tour Championship to dethrone the 15-time major champion. The race comes as Scheffler looks to finish the season on a high after admitting at the BMW Championship that he was not at 100% while dealing with hand, foot, and mouth disease. The illness even made it difficult for him to grip the club, yet he still battled his way to a T12 finish. 

Now, with Scheffler saying he is feeling 95% better, he will head into East Lake with both a FedExCup title and a piece of PGA Tour history within reach.

“The only thing, maybe just still a couple of sores ​in my throat. But other than that, I feel really good,” Scheffler said.

The Tour Championship begins Thursday, August 27, and Scheffler is already on site at East Lake, preparing for more than just another postseason title. The world No. 1 is chasing his third victory of the season and, with a strong finish, could also surpass Tiger Woods as the PGA Tour’s all-time career money leader. 

Reportedly, Scheffler played the front nine at East Lake on Tuesday and returned Wednesday for another look at the back nine. Still, the 21-time PGA Tour winner doesn’t appear to view potentially overtaking Woods atop the career earnings list as a personal milestone. 

Instead, he sees it as a reflection of what Woods has accomplished for the sport and just how high the 82-time PGA Tour winner set the bar.