A new FedEx Cup champion will be crowned this weekend with the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia playing host to the TOUR Championship.
The final tournament of the season tends to have an anticlimactic finish due to the staggered scoring start, but there is genuine intrigue with Scottie Scheffler installed as the favourite over last year’s winner, Rory McIlroy.
Viktor Hovland’s dramatic comeback win last week at the BMW Championship also makes this a tricky tournament to bet on, while there is enormous value on offer for Jon Rahm and horse for the course, Xander Schauffele.
With plenty left to analyse, find out who we’re backing in our 2023 TOUR Championship Preview.
TOUR Championship Best Bet
Jon Rahm (-6) – $8.00
The Spaniard hasn’t been at best during the Playoffs, finishing outside the Top 30 at the St Jude and BMW Championship over the last fortnight.
That said, Rahm still warrants big respect in this field on a course he’s played exceptionally well over the years.
The 28-year-old owns a pair of top five finishes at this event, while he also started red-hot last year with two opening rounds of 67 and 63.
Rahm cooled off over the weekend, but his game typically fits East Lake like a glove.
Consistent iron play from tee-to-green is crucial on the Donald Ross-designed course, particularly on three long and difficult par 3s measuring over 200 yards.
Rahm tends to get some good distance with his irons, evident in the fact he ranks 21st on TOUR in Greens in Regulation percentage on holes over 200+ yards.
Also ranked first in Birdie Average, I think he’s a good play at this price.
TOUR Championship Best Value
Xander Schauffele (-3) – $26.00
It’s been over a year since Schauffele won on TOUR, but he does tick most of the boxes here at East Lake.
In terms of course success, not many come close, Schauffele has finished Top 10 in each of the last five years, while he’s also one of the more complete players heading to Georgia this weekend.
In terms of course comparisions, East Lake plays similar to Quail Hollow, the home of the Wells Fargo.
Schauffele was enormous during the first three rounds back in May, eventually finishing runner-up behind Wyndham Clark.
Coming off a T8 at the BMW last week, he’s a likable play at big odds.
TOUR Championship Best Roughie
Sungjae Im (-2) – $91 ($2.88 Top 10)
Don’t sleep on Sungjae Im this week.
The 25-year-old has been trending upward since returning from his home tournament in South Korea earlier in the year, finishing T20 at Royal Liverpool, and more recently, top 10 at both the St Jude and BMW Championship.
In terms of course familiarity, Im doesn’t compare to the likes of Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy, but he has played East Lake rather well.
Last year saw him tie in a share for runner-up where he was also had the second-best overall 72 hole score.
Proven on Berdumagrass greens and looking ready to peak, I think he might be over the odds.
