The Tour Championship is here, and the Golfing Gazette has taken a look at three players who could rival Scottie Scheffler at East Lake.
After three thrilling playoff events, the FedEx Cup top 30 has been decided. Hideki Matsuyama claimed the St Jude Championship, and Keegan Bradley landed a memorable win at the BMW Championship to catapult himself up 46 places in the standings.
Scheffler, of course, is the man to beat in Atlanta, and the world number one will start with a two-shot lead on ten under.
However, the world number one’s form at East Lake is mixed, and there are three players who could prove huge threats to Scheffler’s FedEx Cup ambitions.
Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele finished in the top five once more at the BMW Championship and showed no sign of dropping off ahead of the season-ending finale.
The American has finished inside the FedEx Cup top five each of the last five seasons and won the Tour Championship at East Lake back in 2017. Justin Thomas, however, claimed the FedEx Cup title seven years ago.
Scheffler has highlighted Schauffele’s form at East Lake, and the world number two will be the biggest threat when Thursday’s first round gets underway.
Schauffele finished second at East Lake in 2023 and fourth in 2022, and he stands an excellent chance of going one better this time around.
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy’s recent form has been largely indifferent. The Northern Irishman finished near the foot of the leaderboard at the St Jude Championship and placed T11 at the BMW.
The four-time major winner has looked on edge since missing out on the US Open at Pinehurst No.2 and is probably looking forward to the PGA Tour season concluding.
Yet, his record at East Lake is remarkable.
McIlroy has three FedEx Cup and Tour Championship titles to his name: 2016, 2018 and 2022. Given his prior history in Atlanta, McIlroy cannot be written off, regardless of his recent troubles.
Patrick Cantlay
Patrick Cantlay claimed the FedEx Cup crown in 2021 and knows what’s required to get the job done around East Lake.
The American has four top-15 finishes since the US Open and is nicely placed in the FedEx Cup standings ahead of the Atlanta event.
Having not tasted victory thus far in 2024, the Tour Championship would certainly be a good place to start. And if he were to land his second FedEx Cup, he would become only the third person to win multiple titles.
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