The world’s top golfers will head to Atlanta this week for the 2017 edition of the Tour Championship. A cool $8.75 million is at stake for the 30-man field with the champion grabbing not only 2,000 FedExCup points, but also the $1.575 million top prize. Read on below for an in-depth analysis of this FedEx Cup Playoff finale and while you’re at it, you can check out this tournament’s purse breakdown.
Favorites – Jordan Spieth (+450) and Dustin Johnson (+700)
It isn’t a complete surprise to see Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson installed as favorites to win this week’s Tour Championship. Johnson and Spieth are the two highest-ranked players in the field and they’re both playing some outstanding golf of late. Johnson has finished in the top-18 in five of his last six starts, including a stunning triumph at the Northern Trust golf event last month.
Johnson’s recent form, however, pales in comparison to the stretch Spieth is enjoying right now. The reigning Open champion has recorded two victories and a couple of runner-up finishes in his last seven PGA Tour events. Spieth finished seventh at last week’s BMW Championship to take the lead in the FedEx Cup standings. Spieth is pegged at +450to win the Tour Championship this week.
High-Value Sleepers – Charley Hoffman (+4,000) and Tony Finau (+5,000)
Looking for a worthy sleeper this week? How about Charley Hoffman? He just nabbed an at-large selection for the Presidents Cup and will look to impress captain Steve Stricker in the year’s final Tour event. Hoffman has not tasted victory this season but he already has six top-5s this year. Can he finally end his title drought at East Lake this week? He is pegged at +4,000 to do just that.
Another golfer who’s primed for a huge performance this week is Tony Finau. He qualified for the Tour Championship with a sparkling 64 in the final round of the BMW Championship. That showing vaulted him from 39th on the FedEx Cup standings to No. 24. Finau’s prodigious length off the tee is the main reason why he’s rolling right now. He’s 10th in the PGA Tour in driving distance, averaging a whopping 309.4 yards per drive this season.
One long shot who can definitely spring a surprise this week is Jhonattan Vegas. Yes, Vegas has finished outside the top-60 in each of his last two PGA Tour starts but he definitely has the power to tame East Lake. The par-70 course is 7,385 yards long, which is perfect for a bomber like Vegas. The Venezuelan is 30th in the PGA Tour in driving distance, averaging 302.0 yards per drive this season. Vegas also knows how to deliver in the big stage, nabbing a surprise victory at the Canadian Open last July.
Writer’s Prediction
Spieth (+450) wins not only the Tour Championship but also the FedEx Cup crown.
