An attempt to reward season long play and Playoffs performance in the form of a FedExCup winner, the 30 player event sees the top seed start at 10-under with the remaining 29 golfers in a staggered start based on their position.
The effort to make something more of the FedExCup Playoffs concept to incentivize players is an admirable one, but the idea of getting down to brass tacks with the best performers of the year only to effectively rule out a number has not been a widely popular one.
Scottie Scheffler will be the one to start with the advantage, the World No.1 two shots in front of last week’s winner Patrick Cantlay, and a massive 10 shots ahead of the likes of Adam Scott, who has been one of the standouts over the prior fortnight of Playoffs golf.
All that aside, East Lake has produced some memorable moments over the years, and once again, the club with strong ties to Bobby Jones takes center stage this week before more LIV Golf signings will reportedly be unveiled in the immediate aftermath.
As was the case last week, Patrick Cantlay defends this week at East Lake in Atlanta. PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: The record says Patrick Cantlay finished at 21-under-par in 2021 to claim the Tour Championship and FedExCup, but as the top ranked player entering the week, his score over 72-holes was in fact 11-under.
Cantlay was a deserving champion though, after winning the previous week at the BMW Championship the American led by one with one hole to play and hit it close to secure what the circuit calls “golf’s ultimate prize”.
Despite Cantlay’s birdie at the last, Jon Rahm had a chance to force extra holes with a chip-in at the last, but it wasn’t to be. The Spaniard finished in front of Kevin Na in third and Justin Thomas just off the podium.
Na and Rahm were tied for the low gross score of the week of 266, two in front of East Lake specialist Xander Schauffele.
COURSE: For the 22ndn.d time East Lake Golf Club welcomes the final event of the PGA Tour schedule this year.
After a nomadic existence in the early years when the tournament came into existence in 1987, the course near the center of Atlanta became the permanent host in 2004.
The home club of the legendary Bobby Jones, East Lake opened for play in 1908 as part of the Atlanta Athletic Club before Donald Ross was brought in to rework the layout in 1913.
After closing with a par-3 for years, East Lake now finishes with a par-5 that provided plenty of drama last year. PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.
A second course was added 15 years later, with Ross once again the chosen architect. A turbulent period saw a number of changes, including the return to 18 holes, with Rees Jones arriving in 1994 to return the course to Ross’ original work.
Traditionally finishing with a par-3 over water, the club reversed the nines in 2016, with a 551 yard par-5 now the conclusion.
Measuring 7,346 yards, East Lake will play to a par of 70 this week.
PRIZE MONEY: US$109,000,000 (including bonus money)
PLAYERS TO WATCH: He is the top of the world rankings and the FedExCup Scottie Scheffler is a very likely winner of the whole kit and kaboodle this week.
After a surprising missed cut in Memphis, the Scheffler who we have come to expect in 2022 returned last week on his way to a share of third at the BMW Championship.
The American is one of the premier ball strikers in world golf, and that is the primary skill that East Lake examines.
Chasing down a second straight FedExCup title, last week’s winner Patrick Cantlay will likely figure here again.
Despite a different venue, Cantlay was in the same sort of mood and form at the BMW in Delaware and clearly enjoys East Lake while starting just two behind Scheffler has a better chance than most.
RIGHT: One of the best performers of the Playoffs so far, Adam Scott will chase a big pay day this week. PHOTO: Rob Carr/Getty Images.
Another shot back is Will Zalatoris who finally broke his PGA Tour duck at the FedEx St Jude Championship before a back injury forced him to withdraw last week mid-tournament.
Zalatoris gets more impressive with almost every start on Tour, and it will be interesting to see how his body holds up this week and whether he can make a quick transition from Rookie of the Year to FedExCup champion.
Also coming back from an injury, Cam Smith skipped last week altogether with a niggling hip issue after his rules snafu the week prior.
The Aussie has been fantastic all year, but skipping last week means he will start six shots in arrears of Scheffler.
Nothing to write home about from his previous Tour Championship appearances so far, but 2022 Cam is a much different prospect than in previous years.
Will once again likely face questions as to if he will be one of the seven rumored LIV signings set to be announced on Monday following the event, but Smith has done a good job of putting exterior noise to the side and playing good golf this year.
The only other Aussie to make it to East Lake, Adam Scott is almost no chance of winning the lot this week when he starts at even par, but Scott will be good to watch this week having impressively played his way into the event.
Scott moved from the outside to inside before the BMW Championship cut off at 70 players, and did the same to get in this week.
As he is at The Masters, Scott is the lone Aussie champion of this event and his golf of late has been top class.
Set to make his 10th Presidents Cup appearance next month, the Queenslander appears to have found something too late.
72-HOLE RECORD: 257 (-23, Tiger Woods2007)
18-HOLE RECORD: 60 (Zach Johnson2007)
PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Adam Scott (2006)
AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Cam Smith and Adam Scott
TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 503 3am – 8am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 3am – 8am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 3am – 8am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 503 3am – 8am)
*AEST, check local guides
© Golf Australia. All rights reserved.