Since 2006 East Lake Golf Club has hosted the TOUR Championship exclusively. The FedExCup Playoffs, which began in 2007, will crown another champion on the Donald Ross layout in Atlanta. Rory McIlroy returns as the defending champion.
TOUR Championship
FedExCup Playoffs Final
East Lake Golf Club
Atlanta, Georgia
Weekly Readers:
Horses for Courses – click here
Betting Stat Pack – click here
Expert Picks – click here
Odds Outlook – click here
This Week – TOUR Championship
Chalk (via Bet365.com)
Scottie Scheffler (-10) will try to win from the front again this year. He’s been caught once. All it took last week to beat him was 65-61 on the weekend!
Viktor Hovland (-8) was the man who did it! Making his fourth start at East Lake, the Norwegian loves a ball-striking test and this qualifies. Momentum is very real in this game.
Rory McIlroy (-7) has been here, done this now three times. Streaking into East Lake with nine consecutive top-10 paydays, he’ll find a layout where he’s cashed in the top 10 on seven of nine visits.
Jon Rahm (-6) surprisingly didn’t catch fire at Olympia Fields last week. The 2020 winner in Chicago didn’t factor but is only four shots back beginning the week.
Lucas Glover (-5), to the surprise of most, will be making his fifth appearance at the season-end money grab at East Lake. Gaining shots off the tee is a major factor this week and that’s his angle. The last time we saw him putt on Bermuda, he made EVERYTHING in Memphis!
Max Homa (-4) set the Bermuda course record here last year with 62 in Round 2. Not bad for his second competitive round! Cashing T5 in his first trip to East Lake, I wouldn’t be surprised if he beats that mark this season.
Patrick Cantlay (-4) has produced his two best results in the last two seasons. Winning the title in 2021, he returned last year and left with T7. Finishing T20 or worse in his first three attempts was confounding.
Brian Harman (-4) will look to add the FedExCup trophy to his Claret Jug in a very busy summer. The lefty took home T5 money last week in Chicago and will be making his third start in his native Georgia.
Welcome Wyndham Clark (-4) to the big show! The first-timer has two wins under his belt from Quail Hollow and the U.S. Open this season. Don’t be surprised if he shows up, shoots a million, and laughs all the way to the bank. He’s on the Ryder Cup. He’s a major champion. At some point the tank empties.
Matt Fitzpatrick (-4) broke out of a stagnant run of form last week (T2) that stretched all the way back to the Memorial Tournament in late May. Making his second visit to East Lake after T15 last year, he’ll look to keep the Chitown Mo rolling in Atlanta.
Tommy Fleetwood (-3) makes his third appearance but first since 2019. The Englishman has never bested 68 in eight rounds at East Lake. He’ll need to crank it up a few notches this week to contend.
Russell Henley (-3) also returns to his native Georgia for the first time since T3 in 2017. Posting eight rounds over two visits he’s signed for 67 or better in half of them. IF he can get his putter going, he makes for a lovely dark horse to break onto the podium again.
Keegan Bradley (-3) returns for the first time since 2018 and fifth time overall. Picking up T11 in 2011, his rookie year, is his best of the bunch. With his putting greatly improved over the last five years, I’m interested to see how it holds up on slick, grainy, Bermuda this week. I’ll let you ride it.
Rickie Fowler (-3) will be making his first start at East Lake since T19 in 2019. Winning in Detroit in July hasn’t kicked him on like I thought it would. His play leading up to Detroit was fantastic. A big week will make Zach Johnson’s big decision much, much, easier. Unless Fowler already knows the outcome…
Xander Schauffele (-3) has some of the best history on this track (non-McIlroy division). The 2017 winner has never finished worse than T7, posted a round above 70, and owns at 67.25 stroke average. Heating up at the right time with T8 last week, he has my full attention on a course he loves.
Tom Kim (-2) has won on a Donald Ross design at Wyndham and frankly, nothing seems to bother him. He gets my vote for best finish for a debutant this week.
Sungjae Im (-2) was T2 last year and posted 16-under gross. His worst round last season was 67. Only McIlroy has posted a better four-round gross in event history. Ding. Arriving on solo seventh and T6 in the previous two Playoff events will not deter me!
Tony Finau (-2), enter the joke, “where he be now?”. He be in the TOUR Championship for the seventh consecutive season, tying Rahm for the longest streak. Posting 64 in Round 4 last year saw him pick up his third top-10 payday in that streak with T9. He’s never cashed better than T7.
Corey Conners (-2) makes his fourth appearance at East Lake and will be looking for his first bonus check inside the top 20. The Canadian appears to be getting closer as he posted 66 and 67 last season, his best from his 12 loops.
Si Woo Kim (-2) made his only appearance in 2016 with T10. He’s always worth a punt on Bermuda and has a victory on a Donald Ross track at Sedgefield.
Taylor Moore (-1) SHOULD improve on his 18-over result from Olympia Fields, right? He SHOULD challenge Tom Kim for the best newcomer.
Nick Taylor (-1) won his national open in the most dramatic of fashion. He’s a hero regardless of his score/finish this week. Buy that man a Molson!
Adam Schenk (-1) has had a super season and this week should present a fantastic free roll. Nothing wrong with having some fun this week and enjoying the dreams of the next two years on TOUR.
Collin Morikawa (-1) will have four more chances to hone his skills on Bermuda greens. I will gladly sit on the sidelines and watch without an investment.
Jason Day (-1) was told by his wife to “keep playing” if she goes into labor. Distractions, like injuries, can shift the focus and free the mind. First appearance since 2018 and ninth overall.
Sam Burns (Even) was supposed to break out in Memphis, light up the Bermuda greens, and put me right back into the Expert Picks game. Bitter? Me? Nah.
Emiliano Grillo (Even) returns for the first time since T10 in 2016. Closing 66-69, he posted his best two rounds after getting comfortable. He’ll need plenty of rounds in the 60s this week to leapfrog the gang in front of him.
Tyrrell Hatton (Even) will have to navigate another week in hot, humid conditions. His smile should return as he remembers he posted 66 twice, plus a 67, cashing seventh in his only visit in 2020.
Jordan Spieth (Even) won here in 2015 but hasn’t found the top 10 since 2017. I’d love to see him open with 63 and see where it goes. Part of me believes it will be a Rosetta Stone week. Tu parli Italiano?
Sepp Straka (Even) showed up last year for the first time, posted three rounds of 68 and a 64, and collected seventh-place bonus money.
NOW PLAYING:
| Host Course | East Lake Golf Club |
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,346. |
| Par: | 70 (35-35). |
| Greens: | Mini Verde ultradwarf Bermuda; 5,600 square feet on average. |
| Stimpmeter: | 12.5 feet and up. |
| Rough: | 419 Bermudagrass at 2.5 inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play | 75/5/4 |
| Architect(s): | Donald Ross (1913). |
| Defending Champion (event): | Rory McIlroy (-17 gross; -21 net). |
| Multiple Champion(s) Entered: | Rory McIlroy has won this event three times including two of the last four. |
| Course Record (last): | 62; Max Homa (Round 2, 2022). |
| 72 Hole Tournament Record: | 263; Rory McIlroy (2022). |
| Fact of the Week: | Final event on this layout as renovation begins after the event ends. East Lake will be ready for play this time in 2024. |
| Fact of the Week II: | Rory McIlroy is the only winner in the Starting Strokes era not to start on 10-under. He’s done it twice. |
Notes:
- Field of 30.
- The OWGR is represented by 26 of the top 31 players.
- No-cut event.
- At the conclusion of play, the final bonuses will be paid based on the position of finish. Read more here.
Season Winners
2022-2023 Season Winners
| Event | Winner |
| Fortinet Championship | Max Homa |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Mackenzie Holmes |
| Shriners Children’s Open | Tom Kim |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Keegan Bradley |
| CJ CUP at CONGAREE | Rory McIlroy |
| Butterfield Bermuda Championship | Seamus Power |
| Mayakoba Championship | Russell Henley |
| Cadence Bank Houston Open | Tony Finau |
| The RSM Classic | Adam Svensson (first TOUR win) |
| Sentry Tournament of Champions | Jon Rahm |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Si Woo Kim |
| The AMERICAN EXPRESS | Jon Rahm (2) |
| Farmers Insurance Open | Max Homa (2) |
| AT&T Pebble Beach | Justin Rose |
| WM Phoenix Open | Scottie Scheffler |
| The Genesis Invitational | Jon Rahm (3) |
| The Honda Classic | Chris Kirk |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | Kurt Kitayama (first TOUR win) |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | Scottie Scheffler (2) |
| Valspar Championship | Taylor Moore (first TOUR win) |
| Corales Puntacana | Matt Wallace (first TOUR win) |
| WGC – Dell Technologies MP | Sam Burns |
| Valero Texas Open | Corey Conners |
| Masters | Jon Rahm (4) |
| RBC Heritage | Matt Fitzpatrick |
| Zurich Classic of New Orleans | Davis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each) |
| Mexico Open at Vidanta | Tony Finau (2) |
| Wells Fargo Championship | Wyndham Clark (first TOUR win) |
| AT&T Byron Nelson | Jason Day |
| PGA Championship | Brooks Koepka |
| Charles Schwab Challenge | Emiliano Grillo |
| Memorial | Viktor Hovland |
| RBC Canadian Open | Nick Taylor |
| U.S. Open | Wyndham Clark (2) |
| Travelers Championship | Keegan Bradley (2) |
| Rocket Mortgage Classic | Rickie Fowler |
| John Deere Classic | Sepp Straka |
| Genesis Scottish Open | Rory McIlroy (2) |
| The Open Championship | Brian Harman |
| 3M Open | Lee Hodges (first TOUR win) |
| Wyndham Championship | Lucas Glover |
| FedEx St. Jude Championship | Lucas Glover (2) |
| BMW Championship | Viktor Hovland (2) |
Recent Winners – East Lake
Italics – not entered this week.
| Year | Winner | Notes |
| 2022 | Rory McIlroy (-17) | Won for the third time. Set the tournament scoring record (-17; gross). Made up six shots in the final round to beat Scheffler. |
| 2021 | Patrick Cantlay (-11) | Starting Strokes leader after his win the previous week at BMW. Won his first FedExCup championship. |
| 2020 | Dustin Johnson (-11) | Starting Strokes leader won his 6th FedExCup Playoff event and first championship. |
| 2019 | Rory McIlroy (-13) | One of only two players (Schauffele) to post double digits under par. Began the week five off the lead. |
| 2018 | Tiger Woods (-11) | Justin Rose won the war becoming FedExCup champion. |
| 2017 | Xander Schauffele (-12) | Justin Thomas won the FedExCup championship. |
| 2016 | Rory McIlroy (-12) | Won a three-man playoff to claim his first title. |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth (-9) | Last winner in single digits. Won by four. |
OAD – 2023 Spotter’s Game
| Already Burned |
| Sungjae Im – Maui |
| Tom Kim – Sony |
| Tom Hoge – AMEX |
| Viktor Hovland – Pebble |
| Xander Schauffele – WMPO |
| Max Homa – Riviera |
| Shane Lowry – Honda |
| Tyrrell Hatton – API |
| Akshay Bhatia – PRO |
| Jason Day – THE PLAYERS |
| Justin Rose – Valspar |
| Cam Percy – Corales |
| Scottie Scheffler – WGC MP |
| Rickie Fowler – Valero |
| Jordan Spieth – Masters |
| Collin Morikawa – RBC Heritage |
| Billy Horschel – Zurich |
| Nicolai Hojgaard – Mexico |
| Rory McIlroy – WFC |
| Adam Scott – ATTBN |
| Brooks Koepka – PGA Championship |
| Chris Kirk – Colonial |
| Patrick Cantlay – Memorial |
| Matt Fitzpatrick – RBC CO |
| Jon Rahm – US Open |
| Harris English – Travelers |
| Davis Riley – RMC |
| Adam Schenk – JDC |
| Tommy Fleetwood – Scottish Open |
| Cameron Smith – The Open |
| Cameron Young – 3M Open |
| Denny McCarthy – Wyndham |
Last Week – BMW Championship
Corey Conners – T10
See you next January for OAD!
Glass Houses 