The Finale Is Upon Us: 2017 Tour Championship Preview
Hello friends. After all that, we’re down to one event. One week. Four rounds. Thirty dudes. That’s it.
Now, I’m a big fan of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. I don’t really know why I just am. For whatever reason — and there are probably many — they produce dramatic stuff with the game’s biggest stars in a part of the season that was previously written off as meaningless.
This year has only reinforced this reality. First we had Dustin going Air DJ over Spieth in New York.
Then we had JT outduel Spieth in Boston for his fifth (!!) win of the year.
Then, perhaps the lone outlier, we had Marc Leishman rout the field in Chicago. Good on him, bad on the drama/excitement/star power thing.
We conclude, as is tradition, at East Lake near Atlanta. Last year they reversed the nines for the first time, in an effort to promote drama down the stretch, and got their wish times a billion.
Rory roared from behind to get into a playoff, eventually prevailing in 4 extra holes to steal the FedEx Cup and millions of dollars from Dustin Johnson.
The History
Here are all the winners since the FedEx Cup’s inception in 2007.
Strong list. Sadly, Rory didn’t play well enough to make it to East Lake this year.
Ten million dollars, that’s the prize for winning the FedEx Cup. Only those in the top-5 in FedEx Cup points heading into this week are guaranteed the $10 mill with a win, but the last 9 winners at East Lake have all secured the FedEx Cup. History says if you win this week, you should like your chances of winning the whole thing.
It’s a big weekend.
The Track
East Lake was first built in 1908 then redone five years later by the legend Donald Ross. It’s famous now for a lot of things and a lot of moments, but most prominently as the property on which Bobby Jones learned the game. He shot 80 here as an 11-year-old.
The Tour Championship’s been hosted here since 2004. It’s 7,300 yards, plays as a par 70, and has defended itself fiercely against the modern game. 5 of the last 9 winners have come in at single-digits under par (the playoff guys got in at 11-under last year).
There’s water. There’s trees. There’s a 600-yard closing par 5 and a sweet ass clubhouse. It’s great.
Notables Holes
8th, par 4, 411 yards
A tough hole, the 8th (previously 17th) has become a pretty famous par-4 in the game. Water hugging the entire left side. Trees narrowing the tee shot. Bunkers and heavy rough guarding any bailouts to the right. The 8th has been the stage for both extremely costly and extremely heroic shots.
Bill Haas got up-and-down from the freakin’ pond in a 2011 playoff, eventually winning the FedEx Cup.
The hole’s not overly long, but its lurking trouble provides a stellar venue. Awesome hole.
15th, par 3, 209 yards
Basically an island green. Think 17th at Sawgrass, plus 80 yards. That’s the view from the tee. Sure, you can bail out slightly left, but anything a little short, a little right, or a little long is toast. A beast of a par-3, it now plays significantly more pivotal as it falls in the closing stretch.
18th, par 5, 600 yards
Gotta sling a bit of a draw off the tee then avoid the water, the layered bunkering, and try not to be too mesmerized by that gorgeous clubhouse (you know how I feel about clubhouses). I sure like the 18th. It’s now, in my opinion, a fantastic finishing hole.
Clubhouse
I love this thing. Just does it for me.
Clubhouse grade = 9.2.
Weather
The Field
Here’s the entire field and tee sheet for Thursday. Rory nor Phil made it.
Show our Fore Play guys Kevin Kisner and Brian Harman some love this week if you’re around Atlanta.
These are the top-5 guaranteed the Cup if they win: Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Marc Leishman, Jon Rahm.
Predictions
Winning Score
The winner typically comes in right in that 9 to 11-under range. What will it be this week? Well we had guys get to 11 last year, so I’m going to show same faith in the course this year.
9-under wins it.
Winner
Steven Bowditch Memorial DFL Award
Russell Henley. Don’t know why, just got my DFL eye on Russ this week.
Dark Horse
Kis! Coming in at 80-1 this week, he’s due. Plus he’s just a genuinely cool, normal ass dude who’s a blast to root for.
Coverage
Heeeeere’s Johnny!
Thursday: Golf Channel 1-6PM
Friday: Golf Channel 1-6PM
Saturday: Golf Channel 12:30-2:30PM; NBC 2:30-6:30PM
Sunday: Golf Channel 12-1:30PM; NBC 1:30-6PM
Final Thoughts
One more Tour event then the Presidents Cup right here in NYC. Exciting couple weeks for golf, then we go dark for a while. Enjoy it while we got it.
On this week’s show, by the way, we welcome country music star Toby Keith.
And we’ve got new golf towels.
Enjoy East Lake.