The remaining 30 players that qualified for the Tour Championship are heading to Atlanta for a shot at the $18 million first place prize.
East Lake Golf Club, Bobby Jones’ home course, has been the permanent home of the Tour Championship since 2004.
This marks the 4th year since the PGA Tour implemented the staggered start to start the Tour Championship.
In 2019 the PGA Tour began assigning strokes under par relative to the Tour Member’s FedEx points ranking following the 2nd leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
The leader in Fedex Cup points entering the event receives a starting position of 10 strokes under par, which adjusts downward to even par.
Field and Starting Strokes
| Scheffler | -10 | Rahm | -3 | Morikawa | -1 |
| Cantlay | -8 | Stallings | -3 | Horschel | -1 |
| Thomas | -3 | Hoge | -1 | ||
| Schauffele | -6 | Young | -3 | Conners | -1 |
| Burns | -5 | Fitzpatrick | -3 | Harman | E |
| Smith | -4 | Homa | -2 | K.H. Lee | E |
| McIlroy | -4 | Matsuyama | -2 | Poston | E |
| Finau | -4 | Spieth | -2 | Theegala | E |
| Straka | -4 | Niemann | -2 | Scott | E |
| Im | -4 | Hovland | -2 | Wise | E |
Patrick Cantlay won the 2nd leg of the FedEx Cup playoff last week in Wilmington, the triple points awarded during the playoffs vaulted him into 2nd in points after the victory.
Cantlay will begin 8 strokes under par when the Tour Championship gets started on Thursday.
The format of the final has been much debated but with more scrutiny with the focus on real competition with the entry of LIV Golf into the golf ecosystem.
How is it fair that one participant starts the tournament with a 10 stroke lead?
Golf along with all sports leagues that feature a playoff struggle to make the regular season relevant and the PGA Tour is no different.
A review and revision will probably be completed by the PGA Tour as the Tour has implemented many changes that have been brought about by the addition of the rival league.
Tiger’s Summit
It was reported that the players may have their own list of revisions they feel are needed to the PGA Tour’s scheduled.
Following the meeting that was called by Rory McIlroy and attended by Tiger and many of the top players remaining on the PGA Tour several ideas that were hashed out during that meeting have been leaked.
According to Alan Shipnuck the assembled discussed the idea of no-cut tournaments with purses of $20 million and a field limited to the top 60 players in the FedEx Cup rankings.
The proposal has been submitted to PGA Tour commissioner, Jay Monahan to review.
Keeps on LIV-ing
It is anticipate that another round of player defections from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf Series at the conclusion of the Tour Championship.
It is rumored that Cam Smith will be in the next round of defections to the LIV Golf series. Smith will start the Tour Championship four-under-par, six strokes behind the leader.
During his press conference Wednesday, Rory mentioned that he reached out to Smith prior to the Open Championship to let him know of the impending changes coming to the PGA Tour.
Players to Watch
Tony Finau
This will be Tony’s sixth trip to the Tour Championship. In five previous trips to East Lake Finau’s best finishes were 7th place in 2019 and 2017.
Tony has cooled off after back to back wins at the 3M Open and Rocket Mortgage Classic to end the season.
Currently 8th in the FedEx Cup ranking, Tony will enter the Tour Championship in the group of five that are starting 4-under-par, six stroke back of the FedEx Cup points leader, Scottie Scheffler.
Sahith Theegala
It has been a rookie of the year caliber season this year for Sahith, he is one of two first-year players to make the Tour Championship.
In 31 event this season Sahith has made 25 cuts, with 11 top-25s, five top-10s, a 2nd, and a 3rd place finishes this year.
Theegala finished the 2nd leg of the FedEx Cup playoff in Wilmington t-15. He is currently 28th in the FedEx Cup rankings and will begin the Tour Championship in the group of 5 that are starting at even par, 10 strokes back of the FedEx Cup points leader.
Tee Times
Finau: Thursday – 1:35 am
Theegala: Thursday – 11:55 am
How to Watch
Golf Channel:
Thursday & Friday: 1 PM – 6 PM
Saturday: 1 PM – 2:30 PM
Sunday : 12 PM – 1:30 PM
NBC:
Saturday: 2:30 PM – 7 PM
Sunday: 1:30 PM – 6 PM