We’ve arrived at the final event of the 2022-23 PGA Tour season, the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta. The top 30 in the point standings have made their way to the ATL ready to battle for the $18 million FedEx Cup bonus awarded to the winner.
After his co-runner-up finish at the BMW Championship, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will begin the tournament at 10 under, two shots clear of the man in the No. 2 spot, Viktor Hovland. Rory McIlroy, who has now finished T-9 or better in nine straight starts after a solo fourth at Olympia Fields, will begin three back at 7 under, while Jon Rahm starts at 6 under.
McIlroy chased down Scheffler last year to claim his third FedEx Cup, the only player who has achieved that feat (Tiger Woods and McIlroy are the only two players to win it more than once).
Golf course
East Lake Golf Club | Par 70 | 7,346 yards
Xander Schauffele on the 18th hole during the first round of the 2022 Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Course history
Course history at East Lake GC for the #TourChampionship going back to 2015.
-Includes average finish position WITHOUT STROKES ADDED and Strokes Gained per round in each category. Players are sorted by SG: Total.
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— Ron Klos (@PGASplits101) August 21, 2023
Betting preview
| Starting spot | Player(s) |
| 10 under | Scottie Scheffler |
| 8 under | Viktor Hovland |
| 7 under | Rory McIlroy |
| 6 under | Jon Rahm |
| 5 under | Lucas Glover |
| 4 under |
Max Homa, Patrick Cantlay, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick |
| 3 under |
Tommy Fleetwood, Russell Henley, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele |
| 2 under |
Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, Tony Finau, Corey Conners, Si Woo Kim |
| 1 under |
Taylor Moore, Nick Taylor, Adam Schenk, Collin Morikawa, Jason Day |
| Even par |
Sam Burns, Emiliano Grillo, Tyrrell Hatton, Jordan Spieth, Sepp Straka |
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
| Scottie Scheffler | (+130) | Collin Morikawa | (+9000) |
| Rory McIlroy | (+330) | Tom Kim | (+10000) |
| Viktor Hovland | (+500) | Tony Finau | (+13000) |
| Jon Rahm | (+800) | Keegan Bradley | (+13000) |
| Patrick Cantlay | (+1600) | Si Woo Kim | (+15000) |
| Xander Schauffele | (+2800) | Jordan Spieth | (+15000) |
| Max Homa | (+2800) | Corey Conners | (+15000) |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | (+4000) | Tyrrell Hatton | (+18000) |
| Lucas Glover | (+4000) | Sam Burns | (+25000) |
| Wyndham Clark | (+5000) | Jason Day | (+25000) |
| Brian Harman | (+5000) | Taylor Moore | (+40000) |
| Tommy Fleetwood | (+5500) | Sepp Straka | (+40000) |
| Russell Henley | (+6000) | Emiliano Grillo | (+50000) |
| Rickie Fowler | (+6500) | Adam Schenk | (+50000) |
| Sungjae Im | (+9000) | Nick Taylor | (+60000) |
Xander Schauffele of the United States looks on during a practice round prior to the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club on August 16, 2023, in Olympia Fields, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Schauffele will tee off Thursday seven shots behind Scheffler. It’s tough to see any scenario where he catches the Texan. However, most sportsbooks will have a “Winner without starting strokes” category.
This is where we can grab Schauffele.
In four appearances since the staggered start was introduced, Schauffele has finished 2nd (’19), 1st (’20), 3rd (’21) and 6th (’22) at East Lake without the strokes applied.
Long story short, this man dominates East Lake. You gotta have him on your card somewhere this week.
Rory McIlroy tees off from the second tee during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Yes, I pick him every week. Get over it.
Since the staggered start began in 2019, McIlroy has won the event twice (’19 and ’22 without the strokes applied) and won the FedEx Cup both times.
He’ll begin three shots back, but McIlroy is used to chasing in Atlanta. In 2019, he started five back, and last year he began six back.
Max Homa of the United States plays his shot from the seventh tee during the second round of the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club on August 18, 2023, in Olympia Fields, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Homa finished third (without the starting strokes) at the 2022 Tour Championship, his first trip to East Lake.
He’s in great form, finishing T-6 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and T-5 at the BMW Championship in his last two starts.
Like with the Schauffele pick, Homa is probably starting too far back (4 under) to love him outright. However, his odds are 14/1 without the starting strokes. Love that for the card.
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