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SportsPulse: Sports USA TODAY Steve DiMeglio announces the final stage of the FedExCup playoffs, the Tour Championship.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI
Bryson DeChambeau hits his tee shot in the final round of the Dell Technologies Championship golf tournament at the TPC in Boston on September 3rd.(Photo: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports)
ATLANTA – After 44 regular-season events and three playoff tournaments, the FedExCup race and the $ 10-million bonus are spread out in four rounds around East Lake Golf Club.
And five guys have pole position.
Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose, Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson and reigning FedExCup Champion Justin Thomas top the standings for the start of Thursday's first heat at East Lake, a 70-year-old historical gem where legend Bobby Jones called home.
Although the task is difficult, especially with a loaded field that includes nine of the top ten players in the official world ranking and 22 of the top 25 players, the scenario for winning the ultimate monetary prize in golf is simple for the top five players. – Win the Tour Championship and win FedExCup and $ 10 million, no matter what the others do.
The five players also have a reasonable chance of winning the FedExCup when they finish on the first page of the standings, as long as none of the other four top players wins the tournament.
In other words, everyone loves their chances.
That's not to say that any of the other 24 players has no chance of winning the FedExCup, but they need help. In the case of Patton Kizzire, who ranks 30th and last place, he needs a lot of help – he has a chance to win the FedExCup by 0.4%.
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This week also marks the return of Tiger Woods to The Tour Championship. In a remarkable comeback season after spinal fusion surgery, Woods finished six in the top 6, including the British Open and the PGA Championship, and reached the playoff final for the first time since 2013. Woods, 20th, is the only two FedExCup winner.
Here is an overview of the top five guys.
No. 1 Bryson DeChambeau
Line of statistics: The world No. 8 won the memorial and the first two qualifying rounds – the Northern Trust and the Dell Technologies Championship. Finished second in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, tied for third in RBC Heritage and fourth in the Wells Fargo Championship. 9 top 10 in 25 PGA Tour start.
Skinny: One of only five players to have won the American Amateur Championship and the NCAA Individual Championship, the others being Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger and Ryan Moore. His scientific approach, which includes single-length clubs, a unique swing and distinctive line-ups, suits him, and that's what counts. Improved in every facet of his game this season. Made his first start at East Lake.
Road to FedExCup: If he wins the championship, he wins the FedExCup. Can finish tied for the 29th and have a mathematical chance. Has a reasonable chance of winning with a finish of second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth, if the first four do not win.
Quotable: "I dreamed of being the number one FedExCup playoff, especially in the case of East Lake. This is a huge benefit and an extraordinary honor, "said Mr. DeChambeau.
# 2 Justin Rose
Line of statistics: The world number 1 has won the WGC-HSBC champions and the tournament Invity Fort Worth. Finished second in the last two playoffs, the Dell Technologies championship and the BMW championship. He also finished second at the British Open and third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Won the Turkish Airlines Open and the Indonesian Masters. At 10 top-10 in 17 PGA Tour starts and 16 top-10 in 23 world starts.
Skinny: The gold medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio is as consistent as any player in the game. Thanks to a better playoff this season and his impressive ball shot, he came in top of the world rankings. He loves East Lake. In eight starts here, his worst result is a tie for the 20th in 2011. He finished second in 2012 and finished three more in the top 6.
Justin Rose reads his putt on the 18th green in the third round of the BMW championship on September 8th. (Photo: Eric Sucar-USA TODAY Sports)
Road to FedExCup: If he wins the Tour Championship, he wins the FedExCup. Can finish as low as the ninth and still have a mathematical chance. Has a reasonable chance of winning with a second or third place, if the other four players do not win.
Quotable: "To win the FedExCup, you have to be in the right place to win this week, and that's what everyone is trying to do, and the last two weeks have done a great job of keeping me in this position. Rose said.
No. 3 Tony Finau
Line of statistics: The world No. 16 finished second in the Safeway Open and Northern Trust, tied for second in the Genesis Open and tied for fourth in the Dell Technologies championship. Had three top 10 in the majors and had 11 top 10 finishes in 27 PGA Tour starts, tied with Dustin Johnson.
Skinny: Finau can do what no one has done before: win the FedExCup without winning a tournament. He is a bird machine and one of the oldest players in the game. Overcoming a dislocated ankle at the Masters during his burst of joy after making a hole in one shot in the Par 3 contest resulted in a thump . In appearance only at East Lake, he finished seventh in 2017.
Road to FedExCup: If he wins the championship, he wins the FedExCup. Can finish as low as a two-way tie for the third and have a mathematical chance. Has a reasonable chance of winning with a second place, if the other four do not win.
Quotable: "It was a great year for me, a solid year, a year when I learned a lot about myself. I am very proud to just play events, compete in competitions and play at a high level and be consistent throughout the year, "said Finau.
No. 4 Dustin Johnson
Line of statistics: The world number 3 has won the Sentry Championships, FedEx St. Jude Classic and the RBC Canadian Open. In second place, AT & T's Pebble Beach Pro-Am finished third at the US Open and tied for third in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Had 11 top 10 in 19 starts.
Skinny: The former world number 1 has won 10 wins in the last three seasons and is one of the oldest players in the game. Can master any golf course. Finished in the top six of three of his last four starts at East Lake.
Road to FedExCup: If he wins the Tour Championship, he wins the FedExCup. Can finish as low as a tie to three for the second and still have a mathematical chance. Has a reasonable chance of winning with a second place, if the other four do not win.
Quotable: "This golf course suits me perfectly. I like the golf course. I've had success here. I played well Obviously, I did not win it. It's a little surprising, but it seems like I've just never put four sleeves together here, "Johnson said.
No. 5 Justin Thomas
Line of statistics: The world No. 4 and reigning FedExCup champion won the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges, Honda Classic and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Second in the WGC-Mexico Championship and fourth in the WGC-Dell Technologies match play. Had nine top-10 in 22 starts.
Skinny: Thomas can do what no one has done before – win the FedExCup two years in a row. He has a lot of firepower in his golf bag. In his first two starts at East Lake, he finished sixth in 2016 and second last year.
Road to FedExCup: If he wins the Tour Championship, he wins the FedExCup. Can finish as low as a two-way tie for the second and still have a mathematical chance. Has a reasonable chance of winning with a second place if the first four do not win.
Quotable: "I'm excited to have the opportunity to do something that no one has ever done, which is pretty cool," Thomas said. "I worked as hard as I could to keep my mind and body as fresh as possible for a chance to come on Sunday."
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