Jon Rahm is our top pick this week to win the 2021 Tour Championship
(Image: Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images) After nearly a years worth of tournaments starting back in September 2020, the 106th PGA Tour season and the 2021 FedEx Cup Playoffs reach their climax this week with the Tour Championship.
This is it. This is the last push for the Top 30 golfers in the FedEx Cup rankings, one last chance to win the prestigious FedEx Cup and have their name engraved on PGA Tour history.
Fortune, as well as fame, are up for grabs, with the winner of the FedEx Cup taking home a hefty prize of $15 million and a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour. Players who don't win will not leave empty-handed though, as each is guaranteed a minimum prize of $400,000.
CURRENT TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT EXPLAINED
In 2019, the PGA Tour decided to change the format of their playoffs. The issue at the time was that, given the amount of points the tournament handed out, a player could win the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup, regardless of their performance in the playoff events prior, essentially nullifying them. On the other hand, scenarios existed some years where the winner of the Tour Championship did not win the FedEx Cup.
The solution to this was to implement what's now known as the FedEx Cup Starting Strokes format. Under this new format, players start the Tour Championship with a specific score, which is determined by their ranking heading into the tournament.
For example, this year, Patrick Cantlay (1st) starts at 10-under, Tony Finau (2nd) starts at 8-under, Bryson DeChambeau (3rd) starts at 7-under. The 4th and 5th ranked players start at 5-under, and this continues until the last players, who start at even par.
The new format now gives meaning to the previous playoff events. This is why players were so determined to place well in them.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO EAST LAKE
East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia has hosted the Tour Championship yearly since 2004 and is now the permanent home of the Tour Championship. Opened as a private course in 1904, with numerous renovations since, East Lake is one of the older courses played on tour.
For the Tour Championship, it plays as a par 70 at 7,346 yards in length. The nines are also reversed, after complaints of lack of drama at the par 3 18th hole. It now finished on the par 5 9th hole.
The course record when played as a par 70 is 60, set by Zach Johnson at the 2007 Tour Championship.
In addition to the course, the clubhouse also acts as a quasi-museum honoring the great Bobby Jones, who was a member of East Lake.
OUR PICKS
Despite the star power and skilled golfers present at the Tour Championship, making picks for the tournament is somewhat easier due to the starting scores. Here's who we have winning the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup this year:
1) Jon Rahm
2) Patrick Cantlay
3) Abraham Ancer
Rahm has played consistently well throughout the playoffs and is our top pick. I think he can overcome his initial four-shot deficit and win. Cantlay is naturally favored due to his starting score, but it will be interesting to see how he handles this "two-shot lead". Lastly, I think if any player outside the Top 5 can win, it's Ancer. We're also hoping for a Louis Oosthuizen comeback, but that may be a bit unrealistic this time around.
Play kicks off Thursday morning and is bound to be action-packed right from the start, as players will try to make up positions quickly.
Stay tuned for our Weekend Update article to see how things have progressed after the first two rounds.
Also follow our Twitter feed for live commentary on the rounds.
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
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