FedEx Cup Playoffs Preview: The Tour Championship by Coca-Cola

It all comes down to this: one tournament, four days, and a whole bunch of FedEx Cup points.  One player will walk off East Lake Golf Course on Sunday with a huge trophy, $10 million in their pocket, and load of bragging rights.

The “almost” 100-year old East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, GA plays as a par 70 and measures as long as 7,319 yards.  It is a fair course but we’re certainly not insinuating that it’s going to be easy.  Unlike previous tournaments such as the US Open at Olympic Club, the rough grass on this Bobby Jones’ favorite track is cut thin; not jeopardizing drives that end up left, right, or long.

Hitting fairways is a major factor to getting to some of the tough greens.  Over the last 4 years the putting average has not been favorable to the players.  It is said that putting wins at East Lake and that will be the true test to raising the Cup.  Three of the last four champions have led their fields in putting.

Of course the field is robust with the top 30 point earners for 2012.  Keep in mind, if any of the top five point leaders win on Sunday, they will mathematically win the FedEx Cup Championship.  Here are Golficity’s Top 5 picks to win the Tour Championship this week.

1. Rory McIlroy: The FedEx Cup points leader, World Ranked #1 golfer, and possible 2012 Player of the Year enters this tournament in a pretty position.  After winning 3 of his last four starts, McIlroy leads the PGA Tour in both birdie average and adjusted scoring. Rory can finish as low as 29^th and still have a mathematical chance of winning.
2. Tiger Woods:  Won the 2007 FedEx Cup Championship and finished runner-up at East Lake four times.  After finishing third at TPC Boston and T4 at Crooked Stick, he enters the Tour Championship ranked 2^nd in points behind Rory McIlroy.  Tiger can finish as low as a 5-way tie for 5^th and still have a mathematical chance of winning.
3. Phil Mickelson:  After suddenly emerging in the playoffs with tremendous play, Phil is amped up to carry his momentum and his new “claw-grip” putter into the final.  Phil won at East Lake in 2000 and again in 2009, but lost in points to Tiger Woods that year.  Phil can finish as low as 3^rd and still have a mathematical chance of winning.
4. Dustin Johnson: Ranked 7^th in FedEx Points, DJ is the only player to finish in the top 10 in all three playoff events.  DJ hasn’t broken the top-20 at East Lake, but he’s been playing remarkably well.  If DJ can win the FedEx Cup if he wins on Sunday and Rory McIlroy finishes in a 5-way tie for 2nd or worse and Tiger Woods finishes T2 or worse. 
5. Brandt Snedeker: Ranked 5^th on the list of points, Snedeker can win the Trophy with a victory on Sunday.  One of the best putters on Tour, which could weigh in heavily at East Lake.  Brandt can finish as low as T-2 and still have a mathematical chance of winning.

The weather is supposed to cooperate this week with a dry terrain and 80 degree temperatures.  Winds will be light but the crowds will be heavy this weekend.

Golficity’s Pick to Win the FedEx Cup Playoffs:   Rory McIlroy

2012 PGA Tour Playoff Point Standings for the FedEx Cup:

Want to know more about how the FedEx Cup?  Check out Golficity’s breakdown on How the Fedex Cup Works.