It’s the long awaited grand finale as the Fed Ex Cup play-offs reaches its conclusion this weekend with the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia.
The field, now down to the Top 30 in the FedEx standings, will battle it out around this stunning par 70 parkland lay out for not just the Tour Championship but more importantly the FedEx Cup and with it a whopping $15M pay cheque.
Now before I continue I’m going to explain this format so no one gets confused with the odds etc. The current FedEx standings determine the player's score before they even hit a ball.
For example, Patrick Cantlay is the points leader so he will start on -10, Tony Finau is next best and starts a further two shots behind on -8 then you have the likes of Rory McILroy starting on -2, eight shots behind Cantlay. So be careful when placing any bets and check your selection's starting score before parting with any hard earned cash.
The weather is forecast currently for thunderstorms today (Tuesday) but it will all clear up for the tournament beginning and conditions will improve to sunny and very warm throughout with no breezes to contend with.
This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf with live coverage starting at 5.30pm GMT on Thursday.
It was yet another fantastic and profitable week at the BMW Championship for us all as I advised Partick Cantlay would win at a recommended 25/1. I said in my preview he was eying up the victory and that the course was all set up for his game.
The matchbet Nap also landed comfortably with Tony Finau beating Louis Oosthuizen. Well done to everyone who collected and thank you all so so kindly for all the nice messages and DMs.
All I can say is your kind words are appreciated and I’m only to glad and happy to help you all and long may it continue. This MFT community is so special and amazing.
So let’s move on with my selections for this week's Tour Championship. Now all these prices are with the FedEx Cup points and not over the scratch 72 holes.
Rory McIlroy
For my first and main selection I’m going to advise Rory McIlroy 25/1 EW Bet365.
Now as already explained, Rory will start eight shots behind the leader so it’s quite a handicap to overcome. Saying that, if anyone can do it in this format and around this East Lake course that he simply adores, then it’s the one and only Rory McIlroy.
If he can just get off to a good start with a few birdies early on then he can very quickly get himself in contention.
The 32yr old Irishman is looking to win this event for an unbelievable third time and knows only to well from past experience that he can make up the shots required in no time.
Rory won this event in 2019 when starting five shots behind Justin Thomas but he went on to win with four shots to spare over the field. As I mentioned, Rory loves this East Lake track having won on it twice and runner-up on another occasion.
I said Rory would be back with a bang and advised he would win the Wells Fargo at 20/1 earlier in the year and he duly obliged, I think another visit on the winners podium is on the cards anytime soon.
He finished 4th at last week's BMW Championship with an impressive -22 scorecard and if he brings that form this week then he can easily claw back that eight shot deficit and finish above the leaders yet again to claim a hat-trick of FedEx Championship crowns.
Xander Schauffele
For my next selection I’m going to single out Xander Schauffele 33/1 EW Bet365.
The 27yr old from San Diego, California, will also start eight shots back on -2, hence the attractive price.
Schauffele is another with form around this East Lake course. He is a previous winner of this event and with eight Top 5 finishes in 24 attempts, he has the form book to be a danger here once again.
He was 2nd last year at East Lake for SG putting and on the PGA Tour over the last year he ranks 3rd for SG and 4th for SG Putting.
Last year Schauffele ended up with the best scorecard here on -15 so if he produces that kind of form then he will be in contention yet again at Sunday’s final round with every chance to become the Tour Champion winner to make it a phenomenal summer after already winning the gold medal at the Olympics in Japan.
Patrick Cantlay
For my next pick I’m going to use my head here and advise the man who done us all proud last week, Patrick Cantlay 7/2 Betfair.
The reason for the best priced 7/2 is his starting position. Way out in front of most at the top of the leaderboard on -10 so they all have to pass him to win and that may prove a tough task for all as Cantlay is a fighter.
He proved that last week when winning the BMW Championship to the delight of us all at MFT as I tipped him at 25/1 to do so.
The 29yr old from Long Beach, California battled his way back into contention last week to force a play-off with Bryson De Chambeau but it was Cantlay who prevailed on the sixth play-off hole with an excellent birdie.
So it basically comes down to this, the whole field has to pass Cantlay to win and he won’t give up without a fight so it’s not going to be easy to knock him of his perch. Just look at Cantlay's last eleven rounds of golf, truly remarkable, not a single round in the 70s, check this out 67-69-67-68-67-68-68-66-63-66-66.
That’s consistent golf at it’s best and he could easy pull away and win this in a canter if producing those figures.
With two victories and three Top 20s in his last seven starts, ignore Cantlay at your peril as he may prove the 7/2 on offer look huge while it’s available.
Sungjae Im v Louis Oosthuizen
For my final selection it’s the customary matchbet and I’m liking the look of Sungjae Im to get the better of Louis Oosthuizen 10/11 Nap Betfair.
