The final leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs gets underway on Friday (AEDT) from the historic East Lake course in Atlanta, Georgia.
As is custom to the final leg, the “Starting Strokes” format is agin in effect with last week’s BMW Championship winner Patrick Cantlay hoping to defend his crown at -8 under.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler remains the favourite at -10 under, while there’s been plenty of interest around last year’s runner-up, Jon Rahm, at -3.
Can Cantlay go back-to-back? Will Rahm get some revenge? Or will Rory McIlroy become a three-time FedEx Cup champ?
Tour Championship Best Bet
Jon Rahm at $15.00
Rahm was a popular bet this time last year when he went on to finish only a stroke behind Patrick Cantlay after starting 6-under. The Spaniard will no doubt have revenge in mind, but he only needs to bring the form he’s shown in recent weeks to be a serious threat. Rahm is coming off back-to-back Top 10’s at TPC Southwind and Wilmington and has so far led the Playoffs in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. Cantlay showed last year that consistency with the flat stick is key, an area Rahm excelled in last week draining 10 birdies and not one bogey.
Tour Championship Best Value
Rory McIlroy at $11.00
History is on the line for McIlroy this week as he hopes to become the first player to win three FedEx Cup championships. He’s typically been in strong form in the opening round recently, and the Irishman will be hoping that continues on a course he knows extremely well. He has a bit of chasing to do this year starting four shots back, but by the same token, McIlroy has also made a habit of storming home late to finish inside the Top 20.
Cameron Smith at $51.00
Brisbane’s finest will have a point to prove in what might be his final TOUR appearance for a while. Smith was forced to miss last week’s second Playoff leg with a hip injury, costing him three strokes and three spots on the standings. On a more positive note, he’s well-rested, while like Rahm, his form with the putter also stands out. Smith currently leads the way in Birdie or Better Conversion Percentage, while he’s also finished Top 25 in three appearances at East Lake.
Tour Championship Best Roughie
Cameron Young at $41.00
Young is on debut at East Lake, but this should be a course that suits his game nicely. The 25-year-old is second in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, while it’s easy to forget he finished runner-up at St Andrews only a month ago.
Adam Scott at $151.00
Eleven years’ worth of experience at East Lake has to count for something, right? Scotty was a winner at this venue back in 2006, but he hasn’t been seen since 2019 when he finished sixth. Even so, the Aussie has been in good form finishing T5 at both the St Jude and the BMW Championship last week. Most of that can be credited to his red-hot putting that ranks third in Strokes Gained during the Playoffs.
