PGA TOUR Championship Golf Preview 2018
It is the final event of the FedEx Cup Play-Offs. There is no prize richer than winning The Tour Championship and all of the 30 players taking part in Atlanta have a shot at walking off with the prize. However, of those turning out at East Lake, there are a few players in prime position to get the title. It is Bryson DeChambeau who is in the driving seat to win the FedEx Cup and he is 18/1 to round off the season in style* (betting odds taken on September 19th, 2018 at 5:05 pm) with a win at The Tour Championship.
The Tour Championship Odds*
Rory McIlroy 8/1
Justin Rose 8/1
Dustin Johnson 9/1
Tiger Woods 11/1
Justin Thomas 12/1
Brooks Koepka 12/1
Bryson DeChambeau 18/1
Rickie Fowler 18/1
Hideki Matsuyama 20/1
Tony Finau 20/1
Francesco Molinari 22/1
Jason Day 22/1
Billy Herschel 25/1
Tommy Fleetwood 25/1
Webb Simpson 25/1
Jon Rahm 25/1
Bar 30/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on September 19th, 2018 at 5:05 pm)
FedEx Cup Standings Top 10
Bryson DeChambeau
Justin Rose
Tony Finau
Dustin Johnson
Justin Thomas
Keegan Bradley
Brooks Koepka
Bubba Watson
Billy Horschel
Cameron Smith
Bryson DeChambeau
It has been some season from him as well as some playoff series from him. DeChambeau took the Northern Trust and the Dell Technologies Championship, the opening two tournaments of the FedEx Cup playoffs. He was just the second player ever to achieve that. He just played a steady hand for a top twenty finish at the BMW Championship. He’s in pole position, a win and he lands the title.
Justin Rose
The new World Number One and has his own destiny in his hands. A win at the Tour Championship guarantees him the FedEx Cup. He had a rough start in the play offs, missing the cut at the Northern Trust, but responded with a T2 at the dell Technologies and then was runner-up at the BMW. He has a tremendous track record at East Lake and has five straight top 10’s at the Tour Championship. He is the 8/1 joint favourite to win on the weekend* (betting odds taken on September 19th, 2018 at 5:05 pm).
Tony Finau
It’s remarkable that a player has performed so well as Finau has and is still waiting for his first win. His playoff record this season in tremendous with a top ten finish in all three events including a runner-up at the Northern Trust. He has just been so consistent and has a big prize in front of him with a final flourish. He could actually finish second and win the Cup and the Title. He is a chunky 20/1 odds price to get the tournament win* (betting odds taken on September 19th, 2018 at 5:05 pm).
Dustin Johnson
DJ hasn’t really put a lot of pressure on during the playoffs, getting a T11 at the Northern Trust, a T7 at the Dell Technologies and then just a T24 at the BMW Championships. He has the ability to just turn it on though in a flash and destroy a field and isn’t out for this by any strength. Was a bit sloppy with the putter at the BMW though.
Justin Thomas
He is the reigning FedEx Cup champion and no player before has managed to successfully defend a FedEx Cup title. He a solid top ten at the Northern Trust but has been flying under the radar since them with a T24 at the Dell Technologies and then a T12 at BMW never looking on contention. He finished runner-up in the Tour Championship last season behind Xander Schauffele which was enough to get him the FedEx Cup title.
Keegan Bradley
Where did he come from in the field to sit handily placed in the top ten heading into the Tour Championship? Bradley’s standings were really pushed up with his top five at the RBC Canadian Open and he was in the final pairing at the Northern Trust but had a poor final round. He underperformed as well at the Dell Technologies over the second half of the event but was on fire at the BMW beating Tony Finau in a playoff. He hasn’t played at East Lake since 2013.
Brooks Koepka
He has been solid through the playoffs, his best finish coming at the Northern Trust with a T8. He had four sub-70 rounds at the Dell Technologies by finished just outside the top ten and then it was a T19 for him at the BMW but carded two strong rounds of 65-66 to finish with over the weekend. Has had a brilliant season and is pretty reliable when it comes to the big events. He can rise to the occasion.
Bubba Watson
He hasn’t had the greatest of times this season and was being written off before he won at Riviera and Austin. His best finish in the FedEx Cup playoffs was a T7 at the Dell Technologies but really has not been looking a major threat. He has three top tens in his last four appearances at East Lake though.
Billy Horschel
He could be a great dark horse this week to get in the frame for the win. He is pretty ruthless when he has the finish line in sight. He carded a T3 at both the Northern Trust and the BMW Championship while missing the Dell Technologies through illness. He should be a good fit for the course as well, which is pretty challenging. He was the 2014 Tour Champions winner which got him the FedEx Cup. He has never shot a round over par at East Lake.
Cameron Smith
A surprise player in the top ten heading into the Tour Championship. He opened so strongly in the playoffs with a T3 at the Northern Trust and then a third as well at the Dell Technologies. He was totally off key at the BMW though and this is going to be a big occasion for him in his first ever Tour Championship event.
Past winners
2017: Xander Schauffele
2016: Rory McIlroy
2015: Jordan Spieth
2014: Billy Horschel
2013: Henrik Stenson
Predictions and Picks
The easiest pick of the lot is Justin Rose because nobody can stand up to his form and his history at the Tour Championship. He has everything in place at the moment to capture another big breakthrough in his career and punters will be leaning heavily on him at 8/1 odds* (betting odds taken on September 19th, 2018 at 5:05 pm).
The solid top ten pick has to be Billy Horschel who is a big-time player and at 8/5 odds* (betting odds taken on September 19th, 2018 at 5:05 pm) will have plenty of appeal for punters. The other there would, of course, be Finau who has just churned out strong consistent performance after consistent performance. It would be such a story if he could win the FedEx Cup by getting second place meaning that he would have earned the prize without winning a single event this season.
The outsider pick has to be Webb Simpson who has had a really solid season without gaining the big headlines. He has a great record at East Lake and he is sat at number eleven heading into the tournament. That means he needs help to get the FedEx Cup title but could bolster his chances with a Tour Championship win and he is a decent 25/1 each way option* (betting odds taken on September 19th, 2018 at 5:05 pm).
