The 2024 PGA TOUR season and the FedEx Cup Playoffs conclude this week with the TOUR Championship at East Lake (par 71, 7,490 yards, Bermuda greens) in Atlanta, Georgia, which has been the home of this season finale since 2004. Viktor Hovland won the TOUR Championship last season at -19 and this will be the sixth year in a row that this 30-man no-cut tournament will begin with each player starting with a score based on their position in the FedEx Cup standings. As the leader in FedEx Cup points, Scottie Scheffler will start this event at -10, two shots clear of the rest of the field. Every golfer’s starting score can be viewed via this link on PGATOUR.com.
Originally designed by Donald Ross, East Lake is a long and challenging parkland course that was completely rebuilt since last year’s TOUR Championship. All the fairways and greens were converted to new surface types, four bunkers were added, and water is now in play on eight holes. Furthermore, East Lake will now play as a par 71, as the 14th hole will now play as a par five, instead of a par four. While the venue is going to feel different for these players, East Lake’s overall layout remains mostly the same and researching golfer’s previous results at this course is still a viable strategy.
Elite drivers are always strong targets at East Lake, given this track’s length and penalizing rough. For five years in a row, the winner at East Lake has finished the tournament top-five in SG OTT. Per usual, players in encouraging form with their irons are sharp options and we also need to be seeking out players who score well on par fives, especially with East Lake now featuring three par fives. These three holes will without question be the best scoring opportunities at this difficult course. Over the last five years, three TOUR Championship winners have led their fields in par five efficiency at East Lake.
Below, I have featured three of my favorite DraftKings bargain plays for the TOUR Championship that cost less than $7.5K.
Russell Henley ($7,400) – Henley will start the TOUR Championship at -2 and is a great value at this affordable salary. The veteran has produced six top-10 finishes in 18 starts this season – two of which have come in his last five starts – and Henley’s driver has greatly improved as of late, with him gaining strokes OTT at three consecutive events. Henley has finished inside the top-15 in all three of his appearances at East Lake – including a T3 in 2017 – and he is a -340 favorite on the DraftKings Sportsbook to finish inside the top-20 this week, which are the best odds of all golfers priced under $7.5K.
Billy Horschel ($7,100) – While Horschel will only get a one-stroke advantage to begin this season finale, the former FedEx Cup champion must be rostered at this low salary. Horschel has been awesome at East Lake throughout his career, with four top-10 finishes in six starts, most notably with a win in 2014 and a runner-up finish in 2018. Overall, Horschel’s career average finish at East Lake is an impressive 11.7th place. As for the former Florida Gator’s current form, Horschel is playing his best golf of the season heading into the TOUR Championship. The veteran has carded three top-10 finishes in his last four starts, including a runner-up at the Open Championship to begin this stretch. This was the best major finish of Horschel’s career since he joined the PGA TOUR 13 years ago.
Horschel has vaulted himself up 37 spots in the world golf rankings since that near win at Royal Troon and his ball striking has been the main reason for his success, with Horschel collectively gaining strokes from T2G, OTT, and on APP at four consecutive events. Additionally, the 37-year-old has shot under par in 12 of his last 16 rounds and he ranks fifth in par five efficiency when we compare this field’s last 24 rounds. In this type of form, Horschel has the potential to finish inside the top-15 this weekend.
Taylor Pendrith ($6,500) – Pendrith is an appealing, cheap flier to consider this week who likely won’t be very popular. The Canadian will start the TOUR Championship at -1 and is underpriced for his current form. In his last four starts, Pendrith has finished T5th, fifth, T22nd and T13th. The 33-year-old has recorded a 65 in each of his last two starts and he ranks ninth in strokes gained per round when we compare this field’s last 50 rounds at Ross designed courses. Pendrith has supplied 13 top-25 finishes this season – including a T16 at the Ross designed Pinehurst No.2 for the U.S. Open. He should outperform this cheap price tag in his debut at East Lake this week.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
