tour championship golf digest

Tour Championship

East Lake Golf Club

Who's in, who's out at the 2023 Tour Championship: All 30 qualifiers and where they start at East Lake

Michael Reaves

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — For all the jockeying for position over 72 holes at Olympia Fields Country Club, for all the drama as players moved in and out of the top 30 in the FedEx Cup points standings, only one player—Matt Fitzpatrick—was able to play his way into the Tour Championship on Sunday.

Fitzpatrick had hoped for more, of course, after beginning the final round of the BMW Championship tied atop the leaderboard with World No 1 Scottie Scheffler. He matched Scheffler with a closing four-under 66, but the Englishman couldn’t counter the magnificent charge of Viktor Hovland , who fired a course-record 61. Fitzpatrick had to settle for joint second place with Scheffler at 15-under 265. Nevertheless, the former U.S. Open winner moved up 30 spots and heads to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta in 10th place in the standings.

“Yeah, played great. Can't do anything about 61,” the Englishman said. “For me, just really pleased again that I played really well final round in contention with world No. 1, and I didn't lose it. Someone else came from behind and won it. I feel like my game is definitely in better shape than it was, and yeah, looking forward to getting to next week and working on it some more, and hopefully still progressing.”

With a move up, one player had to be pushed out, and that was Atlanta native Chris Kirk, who suffered a miserable finish with bogeys on three of his last six holes, including the 18th. Kirk, winner for the first time in eight years at the Honda Classic in March, dropped from 29th to 33rd after a closing one-over 71.

“I’m not sure how I feel about it. I hit two of the best shots [approaches] of the day the last two holes and went par, bogey,” said Kirk after finishing T-29 at two-under 278. “I’d like to have one more week, but I feel like I’ve had enough golf for the next couple of months.”

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Scheffler’s only consolation on the day was overtaking Jon Rahm for the top spot at East Lake, the first time in FedEx Cup playoff history that a player enters the Tour Championship with the lead in back-to-back years. He’ll start the tournament at 10 under par and with a two-stroke advantage over Hovland.

Rory McIlroy, the defending champion and the only three-time winner of the FedEx Cup, will start third and three shots behind Scheffler at seven under in the staggered-start format. He was seventh a year ago and six shots behind Scheffler before a final-day rally.

“I'm playing great tee to green, the best I've played in a long time,” McIlroy said after finishing fourth with a closing 66 on the North Course while paired with Hovland. “Going to have to drive the ball probably a little straighter, but I felt like I found something on the back nine there today to go into next week. but overall I'm in a really good position going into next week, so excited for it.”

Matt Fitzpatrick was the only golfer to play his way into the Tour Championship this week at the BMW Championship, moving from 40th to 10th place in the FedEx Cup standings with his T-2 finish at Olympia Fields.

Stacy Revere

Rounding out the top five in the FedEx Cup standings are Rahm, who will start at six under par, and Lucas Glover, who begins at five under. Fitzpatrick is in a group with five others who will be staked to a score of four under par.

No fewer than six players were in the hunt for the final few berths in the playoff finale, with Sepp Straka perhaps coming up with the most clutch performance, carding a 66 despite a bogey on the 72nd hole. His two-over 282 left him T-37, but he stayed inside the bubble for the playoff finale in 30th place.

“You watch it, but ultimately it doesn't really matter because most of it's out of your control anyway,” said the 30-year-old Austrian native, who had booked two flights out of Chicago, one to Atlanta and one going on home to Birmingham, Ala. “You've just got to try to play a good round of golf and see where you end up.”

Straka, Jordan Spieth and Emiliano Grillo began the week inside the top 30 but found themselves projected outside the top 30 after 54 holes only to bounce back to the plus side on Sunday.

Grillo carded a 67, enough to finish T-31 at even-par 280 and qualified in 27th position. Despite bogeys on his final two holes, Spieth advanced. He had dropped as far down as 32 in the projections when he signed for a 71 before getting help from 2018 FedEx Cup champion Justin Rose and Denny McCarthy, who were inside the number as the final round began but couldn't keep it. Spieth finished T-34 at one-over 281.

Sahith Theegala also figured in the matrix of things, giving himself hope with three straight birdies starting at the par-5 15th, bit then the second-year tour player bogeyed the last for a 67 and 274 total, tied for 15th, which left him in that agonizing 31st position, nine points behind Straka.

Rose had played his way in from 34th at the outset of the week with middle rounds of 65 and 68 and then fell away with 73-276, placing T-22. McCarthy was projected in at No. 30 when his final round began, but his even-par 70 wasn’t enough to keep it, ending up 33rd with his T-10 finish at 273.

Here's the field for East Lake and where they’ll all start on Thursday.

Scottie Scheffler (-10)

Viktor Hovland (-8)

Rory McIlroy (-7)

Jon Rahm (-6)

Lucas Glover (-5)

Max Homa (-4)

Patrick Cantlay (-4)

Brian Harman (-4)

Wyndham Clark (-4)

Matt Fitzpatrick (-4)

Tommy Fleetwood (-3)

Russell Henley (-3)

Keegan Bradley (-3)

Rickie Fowler (-3)

Xander Schauffele (-3)

Tom Kim (-2)

Sungjae Im (-2)

Tony Finau (-2)

Corey Conners (-2)

Si Woo Kim (-2)

Taylor Moore (-1)

Nick Taylor (-1)

Adam Schenk (-1)

Collin Morikawa (-1)

Jason Day (-1)

Sam Burns (E)

Emiliano Grillo (E)

Tyrrell Hatton (E)

Jordan Spieth (E)

Sepp Straka (E)

FedEx Cup payouts

How much each player will make based on their finish at the Tour Championship:

1. $18,000,000

2. $6,500,000

3. $5,000,000

4. $4,000,000

5. $3,000,000

6. $2,500,000

7. $2,000,000

8. $1,500,000

9. $1,250,000

10. $1,000,000

11. $950,000

12. $900,000

13. $850,000

14. $800,000

15. $760,000

16. $720,000

17. $700,000

18. $680,000

19. $660,000

20. $640,000

21. $620,000

22. $600,000

23. $580,000

24. $565,000

25. $550,000

26. $540,000

27. $530,000

28. $520,000

29. $510,000

30. $500,000

Trending Teams

2024 tour championship: where players will start with staggered scoring.

Golf Channel Staff ,
Golf Channel Staff

The Tour Championship field is set and the stroke advantages/disadvantages have been determined.

The playoff finale at a renovated East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, offers a $100 million purse. The winner will earn $25 million and be declared the FedExCup champion.

Season-long points do not carry over as the Tour Championship, instead, employs a staggered scoring start based on the FEC standings through the first two playoff events.

Here’s who made the field of 30 and where they will begin Thursday’s play:

1. Scottie Scheffler: 10 under 2. Xander Schauffele: 8 under 3. Hideki Matsuyama: 7 under 4. Keegan Bradley: 6 under 5. Ludvig Åberg: 5 under T6. Rory McIlroy: 4 under T6. Collin Morikawa: 4 under T6. Wyndham Clark: 4 under T6. Sam Burns: 4 under T6. Patrick Cantlay: 4 under T11. Sungjae Im: 3 under T11. Sahith Theegala: 3 under T11. Shane Lowry: 3 under T11. Adam Scott: 3 under T11. Tony Finau: 3 under T16. Byeong Hun An: 2 under T16. Viktor Hovland: 2 under T16. Russell Henley: 2 under T16. Akshay Bhatia: 2 under T16. Robert MacIntyre: 2 under T21. Billy Horschel: 1 under T21. Tommy Fleetwood: 1 under T21. Sepp Straka: 1 under T21. Matthieu Pavon: 1 under T21. Taylor Pendrith: 1 under T26. Chris Kirk: Even T26. Tom Hoge: Even T26. Aaron Rai: Even T26. Christiaan Bezuidenhout: Even T26. Justin Thomas: Even

More From Forbes

Tour championship 2024 golf odds, picks and profiles including east lake golf course restoration for fedexcup finale.

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - For the third straight year, Scottie Scheffler starts the Tour Championship as ... [+] the FedExCup Starting Storkes leader in the final event of the FedExCup Playoffs. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Just 30 PGA pros remain in the quest for the FedExCup . But only a handful of players have a true shot to win the massive $25 million bonus and first place prize at the 2024 TOUR Championship. The modified and staggered strokes-based scoring system (FedEx Starting Strokes) adds a wrinkle to the scoring for the fifth straight year with adjusted odds to win provided for both with and without starting strokes .

For the third consecutive edition of the event, Masters champion and seven-time PGA Tour winner in 2024 Scottie Scheffler starts with the lead at -10 under par with PGA Championship winner and British Open Champion Golfer of the Year Xander Schauffle at -8 under FedEx Starting Strokes.

The 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley won last week’s BMW Championship as a 90/1 longshot to surge up the FedExCup Standings from No. 50 to No. 4, and is now in contention to hoist the FedExCup behind Scheffler, Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama.

Last year’s FedExCup Champion Viktor Hovland won’t repeat as Tour Championship winner sitting at No. 18 in the standings. But 2022 and 2019 FedExCup Champion Rory McIlroy starts at No. 6 and 6-strokes behind leader Scheffler to begin Round 1 in the no-cut event at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

FedEx Cup Playoffs Overview And Starting Strokes

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

Big money is on the line with all players guaranteed $550,000 and the top-10 finishers receiving the biggest payouts of the PGA Tour season from the $100 million bonus pool.

$25 million
$12.5 million
$7.5 million
$3.5 million
$2.75 million
$2.25 million
$1.75 million
$1.075 million
$1.025 million
Course: East Lake Golf Club
Yardage: 7,490 yards, Par 71 (new for 2024)
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Dates: Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2024

East Lake has a course redesign this past year with Andrew Green performing a “sympathetic renovation” to restore most of the original Donald Ross characteristics to the golf course. The course was completely rebuilt from the ground up in 10 months and had a 13-week grow-in period. The restoration was committed to environmental stewardship and highlights include:

Reshaping fairways and green complexes plus runoff areas
Fairway conversion from Meyer zoysia to Zorro zoysia
Greens conversion from Mini-Verde bermuda to TifEagle bermuda
Bunker placement in fairways and around greens (78 up from 74)
Stream reclamation between No. 6 and 7 (water in play 8 holes, up from 6)
Converting No. 1 to a par 5

Tour Championship Field, Starting Strokes and Odds

The 2024 Tour Championship Odds and updates are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds for the winner includes bonus staggered starting strokes, and also the option to bet without starting strokes - or the player to shoot the lowest 72-hole score.

Scottie Scheffler (-10): +110 / +470 (Without Starting Strokes)
Xander Schauffele (-8): +230 / +470
Hideki Matsuyama (-7): +1200 / +1800
Keegan Bradley (-6): +3500 / +3300
Ludvig Aberg (-5): +2000 / +1400
Rory McIlroy (-4): +1800 / +1000
Collin Morikawa (-4): +3000 / +1400
Patrick Cantlay (-4): +4000 / +1500
Wyndham Clark (-4): +4500 / +2600
Sam Burns (-4): +4500 / +2000
Tony Finau (-3): +10000 / +2900
Adam Scott (-3): +11000 / +2900
Sungjae Im (-3): +12000 / +2200
Shane Lowry (-3): +15000 / +5000
Sahith Theegala (-3): +22000 / +5000
Viktor Hovland (-2): +8000 / +1600
Russell Henley (-2): +12000 / +2200
Byeong Hun An (-2): +30000 / +6500
Robert McIntyre (-2): +35000 / +6500
Akshay Bhatia (-2): +40000 / +5000
Tommy Fleetwood (-1): +15000 / +2000
Billy Horschel (-1): +35000 / +3300
Sepp Straka (-1): +60000 / +5000
Taylor Pendrith (-1): +75000 / +6500
Matthieu Pavon (-1): +100000 / +15000
Justin Thomas (E): +40000 / +2900
Chris Kirk (E): +100000 / +6500
Tom Hoge (E): +100000 / +6500
Aaron Rai (E): +100000 / +5000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (E): +100000 / +5000

The top seed has only won the Tour Championship twice in the previous five editions of this format. Scottie Scheffler has yet to win while being in the top position to start the tournament twice previously. No winner has come from -3 under par starting strokes or worst to win. Rory McIlroy has come from 5 and 6-shots back to win the Tour Championship twice in it’s current format. Viktor Hovland trailed by 2-shots to start last year’s victorious run as Tour Championship winner and $18 million top prize. Now the PGA Tour opens up the playoff purse even more with $25 million to the winner.

Top Finishing Position And Dead Heat Grading

Another way to bet the TOUR Championship is picking the winner without the starting strokes. So the lowest 72 Hole Score (Excluding Handicap) is the winner. More ways to win as you strategize and do your FanDuel research for the TOUR Championship.

Key Stats And Form

The past stats from players is not your guide any longer with the course restoration. But strokes gained Off the Tee is a signficant stat to focus on as players strategize and take aim at the new fairways and greens. Faster-rolling fairways and strategically placed bunkers put more strategy and placement in play for the players shooting for the pot of gold at the Tour Championship and redesign of East Lake Golf Club.

TOUR Championship Picks

Very low odds on the favorites this week combined with the strokes-gained format makes outright betting less desirable. But check back as more golf stats and contributors picks are added along with insight with information you can bet on including lowest 72-hole score and winner without starting strokes .

Top 30 Players Profiles

Golf odds plus leading golf analysts and contributors picks to win and top finishing position include:

SportingLife: McIlroy, Hovland (Lowest 72-hole score without starting strokes)
TheLines: Shane Lowry (without starting strokes)
GolfBet: Schauffele (2), Matsuyama, Morikawa & Top-5 McIlroy, Lowry, Theegala, Horschel
FanDuel : Scheffler, Cantlay plus Fleetwood (Low 72-hole score) and Top 5 Morikawa, Top 10 Henley
Golf Digest: Without starting strokes - Fleetwood (3), Burns (2), Schauffele

A record number of 9 European golfers will compete in this year's Tour Championship.

Notable Tournament Matchups And Odds

Tournament match-ups vary from leading online sportsbooks, and are posted here along with any suggested bets by FairwayJay. Predictions and picks and other FanDuel matchups and Round 1 options by Wednesday. SuperBook sports Las Vegas top 10 matchups below. My recent round-by-round matchups, odds and bets, which went 2-o in both the Olympics final round on players scoring and Round 4 of the Open Championship matchups. FedEx St. Jude Championship tournament picks went 1-0 with another underdog winner.

Types Of Bets And How To Read The Odds

Rory McIlroy (-125) vs. Collin Morikawa (+105)
Sam Burns (-120) vs. Wyndham Clark (+100)
Sungjae Im (-115) Tony Finau (-105)
Shane Lowry (-110) vs. Sahith Theegala (-110)
Akshay Bhatia (-120) vs. Byeong Hun An (+100)
Viktor Hovland (-120) vs. Russell Henley (+100) - Bet Hovland
Tommy Fleetwood (-170) vs. Billy Horschel (+150)
Sepp Straka (-130) vs. Taylor Pendrith (+110)
Aaron Rai (-135) vs. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+115)
Tom Hoge (-110) vs. Chris Kirk (-110)

Over his last 24 rounds, Viktor Hovland ranks No. 1 in this field in Strokes Gained - Off The Tee and No. 5 in Approach . Russell Henley ranks No. 27 and 15 in those two categories. Hovland’s putting is also No. 10 and improved despite last week’s worst putting performance of the year at the BMW Championship.

Tour Championship TV And Online Schedule

Thursday/Friday (Aug. 29-30) - Golf Channel 1-6pm ET.

Saturday (Aug. 31) - Golf Channel 1-2:30, NBC 2:30-7pm ET

Sunday (Sept. 1) - Golf Channel 12-1:30pm, NBC 1:30-6pm ET

Online streaming of the Tour Championship is available on Peacock, and PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ will stream exclusive, four-feed coverage of the TOUR Championship and final event of the FedExCup Playoffs starting Thursday.

Featured Groups And ESPN+ Bonus Coverage (All Times Eastern)

Thursday (Hole #1)

11:16 am : Justin Thomas, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
12:00 pm : Billy Horschel, Tommy Fleetwood
1:27 pm : Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark
2 pm : Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele
Featured holes: Par 3s at hole No. 2, 9, 15 and Par 4 at No. 17

President’s Cup

Also, the President’s Cup is just a month away in Montreal Sept. 24-29. The top-6 players are confirmed following the BWM Championship. The U.S. and International team captains Jim Furyk and Mike Weir will anounce their six additional captain’s picks 1-2 days after Labor Day.

Follow all the golf news, odds, picks and previews for the Tour Championship and FedExCup Playoffs, as betting on golf continues to be popular with fans firing for more fairways and greens.

You can bet on it.

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Expert Picks: TOUR Championship

Expert Picks

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE - AUGUST 19: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the seventh tee during the second round of the BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club on August 19, 2022 in Wilmington, Delaware. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Aside from the experts below, Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton breaks down the field at this year's TOUR Championship in this week's edition of the Power Rankings . For more fantasy, check out Rookie Ranking , Qualifiers and Reshuffle .

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