The final PGA Tour event of the 2015-16 season is upon us, and 30 golfers have made it to the Tour Championship at East Lake. We have a few favorites for who will win the FedEx Cup and $10 million bonus, but the fun thing about this tournament is that anything can happen. That was proved back in 2011 when Bill Haas took the tournament and the FedEx Cup from the 25th spot in the standings coming into the week.
Let's take a look at this week's contest.
What: Tour Championship | Where: Atlanta, Georgia | When: Sept. 22-25
How to watch (all times ET):
TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday from 1-6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and Sunday from 12-1:30 p.m.) and NBC (Saturday from 12-3:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30-6 p.m.)
Participants and odds
- Dustin Johnson: 9-2
- Rory McIlroy: 6-1
- Jason Day: 9-1
- Jordan Spieth: 8-1
- Adam Scott: 10-1
- Paul Casey: 14-1
- Patrick Reed: 16-1
Field strength: A
The odds are lower for this tournament for the favorites than they normally would be because there are only 30 participants. It's an elite field. The only massive name that didn't make it to East Lake is Rickie Fowler who will presumably be preparing for his Ryder Cup appearance.
Story to watch: There are dueling storylines going on this week. The first is obviously who can take the FedEx Cup (and monstrous paycheck that goes with it). This has Dustin Johnson's name written all over it. He's the No. 1-ranked golfer in the FedEx Cup standings going in and has played tremendously at this course in the past (more on that in a minute).
The second is whether there will be a shakeup in the last United States Ryder Cup captain's pick.
Captain Davis Love III warned prospective picks like Bubba Watson, Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger (who all practiced with the Ryder Cup team Monday) about getting too caught up in what the others are doing.
"We looked at a lot of guys that are in the Tour Championship and some guys that aren't in the Tour Championship, and we got a long two weeks ahead of us," Love said last week. "I'd say the players that are playing in he Tour Championship need to try to win the Tour Championship and not think about Ryder Cup points. I think that's the biggest thing I've told several players is it's not a scoring contest at the Tour Championship for who gets the Ryder Cup pick."
Paul Azinger, who is the last U.S. captain to win a Ryder Cup, said recently that he thinks unless Justin Thomas or Daniel Berger win the Tour Championship that the pick will be Watson. I slightly disagree, but I do think Thomas or Berger has to finish in the top three or five.
Paul Azinger wants Davis Love III to pick a certain 14-time major winner for the Ryder Cup. Seriously. Listen here https://t.co/YPjLzZCLWA
— The Clubhouse (@theclubhousepod) September 18, 2016
Past winners
- 2015: Jordan Spieth
- 2014: Billy Horschel
- 2013: Henrik Stenson
- 2012: Brandt Snedeker
- 2011: Bill Haas
Forget all of them, though, because this is the best moment in Tour Championship history.
It's @playofffinale week, so here's the most underrated moment to take place at East Lake. pic.twitter.com/nIbxCHfJfi
— SkratchTV (@skratchTV) September 19, 2016
Let's look at the picks this week.
Expert Picks (Kyle Porter)
| Player | Pick | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 | Winner | Dustin Johnson is my guy to win this week. Huge limb I'm going out on there. Remember, Johnson finished in the top five at this tournament in each of his past two appearances. He's also the hottest golfer in the world right now. Odds: 9-2 |
 | Top 10 | Jason Day has a balky back, but he also has top 10s at this tournament in three of his past five appearances. He has fought through injuries all year, and I see no reason this one is going to keep him from showing out at East Lake. Odds: 9-1 |
 | Sleeper | Justin Thomas is 66-1 to win the Tour Championship in his first appearance. Why? How is Thomas, a potential Ryder Cup captain's pick, 66-1 to win a tournament in a field with only 30 golfers? That's insane. Odds: 66-1 |
| Player | Pick | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 | Winner | Adam Scott has finished fourth in all three playoff events. That's kind of ridiculous when you think about it. He's in great form and isn't going to have total focus on the Tour Championship while American and European golfers keep one eye on the Ryder Cup. Odds: 10-1 |
 | Top 10 | Speaking of in-form golfers, Paul Casey has been the runner-up at the past two playoff events. That's pretty good, also it's not especially hard to make the top 10 in a 30 man field, so I'll ride with Casey to keep up his quality play. Odds: 14-1 |
 | Sleeper | I'll go with a true sleeper in the Tour Championship. William McGirt is one of four golfers with triple-digit odds to win, but he's surprised plenty this season with seven top 10s and a win. One more ride with ol' Dirt McGirt in 2016. Odds: 125-1 |
