🏆️ GolfStats Insider: Tour Championship Edition

As the FedEx Cup season culminates in the highly anticipated Tour Championship, we at GolfStats.com want to extend our sincerest gratitude for your continued support. Your dedication to following the game with us fuels our passion for delivering top-tier analysis and insights.

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Now, let's dive into the Tour Championship!

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🏌️ Tour Championship Field

The Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club features all 30 players who advanced through the FedEx Cup playoffs. This elite field includes 20 of the top 25 players from the Official World Golf Rankings, with nine of the top ten, such as world number one Scottie Scheffler and three-time Tour Championship winner Rory McIlroy. Other prominent names like Russell Henley, Justin Thomas, and Patrick Cantlay are also present.

Notably, a few top-30 ranked players, including Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton, and Wyndham Clark, did not qualify, highlighting the intense competition of the FedEx Cup playoffs. The field is entirely comprised of the top 30 from the FedEx Cup rankings.

Four past Tour Championship winners are competing: Scottie Scheffler (2024), Viktor Hovland (2023), Rory McIlroy (2022, 2019, and 2016), and Patrick Cantlay (2021). Their proven track record adds significant competitive intrigue.

📊 Data-Driven Insights for Fantasy & Betting

If you’re serious about making the best picks this week, our GolfStats tools have you covered.

• Our Performance Chart ranks players by their average finish of all players in the Tour Championship field, helping you identify those who consistently contend.

• Our GolfStats Custom Formula highlights the best performers at this event over the last five years, factoring in course history and key stats.

• Our Sortable 8-Year Glance lets you track trends, breakout performances, and potential sleepers at the Tour Championship.

These tools are invaluable whether you’re betting, setting a DFS lineup, or simply looking for an edge in your fantasy league. Check out the full blog post for DK fantasy advice.

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🥇 The 2025 Season: Major Moments and Tour Transformations

As the 2025 FedEx Cup season concludes, it's been a year of significant shifts for the PGA Tour. With new leadership, the Tour appears to be gaining ground in its battle with LIV Golf, which continues to face television ratings challenges despite substantial financial backing. The PGA Tour, in contrast, saw a commendable 15% improvement in ratings in 2025.

The season saw 29 different players claim victories across 38 events. Scottie Scheffler continued his dominance with five wins, while Rory McIlroy secured three. The year also welcomed 12 first-time winners, highlighting the emergence of new talent.

Major championships delivered their usual drama. Rory McIlroy achieved a career Grand Slam with his Masters victory. Scottie Scheffler continued his major dominance, winning both the PGA Championship and the British Open. J.J. Spaun emerged victorious at the U.S. Open.

The age range of winners this season was diverse, spanning from 20 to 45 years old. Thirteen players in their 20s accounted for 18 titles, and fifteen in their 30s claimed 20 victories. Justin Rose, at 45, was the sole winner in his 40s. The season also marked a resurgence for several players, including Harris English, Brian Harman, and Viktor Hovland. However, some notable players, like Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and Tommy Fleetwood, did not secure a win in 2025. Injuries also impacted the season, with Billy Horschel undergoing hip surgery.

For the second consecutive year, the Tour Championship is not the final event. The PGA Tour's return to a calendar-year schedule means seven events are slated for the next two months, offering players a crucial chance to retain their Tour cards. The streamlined playoff system, with 70 players, was a success, making it easier to follow. Golf's main season will now run from January to the end of August.

⛳️ Tournament Information

East Lake Golf Club 
Atlanta, Ga.
7,440 yards
Par 35-35–70

East Lake Golf Club, a course rich in history, has undergone several transformations since its original design in 1905. Once the home course of Bobby Jones, it experienced a period of decline before a significant restoration led by Tom Cousins in 1993. Rees Jones made substantial changes in 1994, and a recent renovation by Andrew Green has further refined its layout.

Today, East Lake plays as a 7,440-yard, par 70 course, featuring Zorro Zoysia grass on the tees and fairways, Tifway 419 Bermudagrass in the rough, and Bermuda on the greens. This ensures the course remains in excellent condition despite the summer heat.

The Par 3, 15th is a signature hole, playing around 215 yards downhill. Its peninsula green, guarded by water and a small bunker, presents a significant challenge. The recent renovation also involved removing hundreds of trees, altering the course's visual and strategic elements.

In 2015, the course played as the 17th hardest on Tour, consistently challenging the world's best golfers. 

Key Stats for Success at East Lake Golf Club

The Tour Championship has a new format this year: it will be played as a regular stroke-play event, with all players starting even. The winner will also be crowned the FedEx Cup champion. This significant change aims to make the event more competitive and exciting, moving away from the previous "Starting Strokes" format. The PGA Tour aims for a more merit-based conclusion, similar to major sports championships where all competitors start on equal footing.

While the previous format rewarded early season performance with a starting advantage, the Tour has now ensured players are financially compensated for their season-long efforts before the Tour Championship. For example, Scottie Scheffler received $15 million for leading the FedEx Cup points after the BMW Championship, Rory McIlroy $7.5 million, and J.J. Spaun over $3 million. Even the 30th-ranked player, Akshay Bhatia, received $195,000. This system ensures that financial rewards are distributed for season-long performance, separate from the tournament outcome.

Making it to East Lake remains highly significant. Being among the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings guarantees entry into all four majors in 2026 and participation in all nine $20 million Signature events next year. These include prestigious tournaments like The Sentry, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Genesis Invitational, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Miami Championship (a new event), Truist Championship, the Memorial Tournament, and the Travelers Championship. These benefits underscore the immense value of qualifying for the Tour Championship.

With the new format, success at East Lake will depend on traditional golf metrics, emphasizing all-around performance. Key stats for winning will include:

Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green: Precision from tee to green will be paramount. Players who consistently hit fairways and greens will gain a significant advantage on East Lake's demanding layout.

Greens In Regulation (GIR): The challenging greens, particularly the peninsula green on the 15th, necessitate exceptional iron play. Accurate approach shots will create crucial birdie opportunities and minimize errors.

Scrambling and Around-the-Green Play: Even the best will miss greens. The ability to recover and get up and down from difficult lies around East Lake's Bermuda greens will be vital for maintaining momentum and saving pars.

Strokes Gained: Putting: With an even start, putting will be more critical than ever. Players who can consistently make putts, especially from mid-range, will differentiate themselves and capitalize on scoring chances, turning good approaches into birdies and saving pars when needed.on to the FedEx Cup season, where the best performance over four rounds at East Lake will truly determine the Tour Champion and FedEx Cup winner, making for a compelling and unpredictable finish.

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Who to watch for at the Tour Championship

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