Scottie Scheffler headlines a 30-man field at the revamped Tour Championship with a massive $40 million purse on the line.
The latest: Starting strokes, be gone. For the first time since 2019, every player will begin at even par at East Lake Golf Club. The lowest scoring player after four rounds will hoist the FedEx Cup, making Scheffler’s title defence a little tougher.
Check out our Tour Championship betting preview and best bets to win the FedEx Cup playoffs. The PGA golf tournament starts Aug. 21 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Tour Championship odds
Full Tour Championship betting markets
- East Lake has hosted the Tour Championship since 1998 and plays as a 7,226 par-70. The PGA Tour has committed to a tougher, more strategic setup at East Lake this year, with new pin locations and thicker rough to heighten competition and drama.
- Scheffler (+163) secured his fifth win of the season last week after erasing a four-shot final round deficit to win by two at the BMW Championship. The No. 1-ranked player has now reached a +3.3 skill index on DataGolf, inching closer to prime Tiger Woods at +3.88.
- Scheffler won this event last year at 30-under, but was actually beaten out by two players — Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala — on the 72-hole aggregate scoring.
- There are four additional prior champions in the field: Rory McIlroy (x3), Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, and Xander Schauffele.
2025 Tour Championship predictions
Best bet: McIlroy winner without Scheffler (+450)
I want no part of betting against Scheffler right now, and thankfully, I can avoid him entirely with the “winner without” market.
McIlroy is flying under the radar heading into this tournament, despite going winless since the Masters.
He has five straight top-20 finishes, gaining strokes off-the-tee on approach and putting in four consecutive events.
McIlroy has also won this event three times, most recently in 2022 after starting at -4, six shots back of Scheffler.
On a level playing field, I could see him contesting for an outright win at +800. But then again, why run the risk of betting against the best player since Tiger?
Key stat: McIlroy’s +2.66 average strokes gained at East Lake Golf Club is the second-best in the field, behind Justin Thomas.
PGA Tour best bets
Full Tour Championship betting markets
Sepp Straka winner without Scheffler (+2,000) & top-10 finish (+150): Straka missed last week’s event due to a personal matter, but still qualified for the Tour Championship thanks to picking up a pair of wins earlier this season (American Express, Truist Championship).
He also finished T3 at the Memorial Tournament and T5 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, two of the most difficult venues on the PGA Tour.
At his best, Straka is an elite ball striker who hits a ton of fairways. That will be the recipe for success this week, and I’m happy to take a flier on him at +2,000.
Asking him to finish inside the top 33% of this field seems like a steal, given his high floor. Straka made the top-20 in 13 of his 17 non-major starts this year.
Tour Championship picks made at 3:30 p.m. on 08/18/2025.
Tour Championship FAQ
What is the change in format from 2024?
From 2019-2024, the Tour Championship used a starting-strokes system. Players began the tournament with staggered scores based on their FedEx Cup standings (−10 for the leader, −8 for second, and so on). Now, all 30 players will start at even par in a 72-hole stroke play event.
How is the $40 million purse divided?
The winner of the Tour Championship will receive $10 million, with second place taking home $5 million. Every player is guaranteed at least $355,000.
Was there a reward for leading the season in FedEx Cup points?
Yes, Scheffler was No. 1 in points entering the FedEx Cup playoffs and earned a $10 million bonus. He earned another $5 million bonus for leading in points entering the Tour Championship.
When does the Tour Championship start?
The event begins on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 11:20 a.m. ET. Players will be grouped in pairings of two, heading off every 10 minutes.
How many Canadians qualified for the Tour Championship?
Corey Conners (+4,000) and Nick Taylor (+10,000) are the two Canadians in the 30-man field. Taylor Pendrith narrowly missed the cutoff after finishing 33rd on the FedEx Cup points list. Conners is making his fourth start while Taylor is making his second, but neither has finished inside the top 20 before.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.