Originally Published: September 24, 2008
With field trimmed to 30, playoffs set to end at East Lake
This week's Tour Championship marks the unofficial end of the PGA Tour season -- and the official end of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Vijay Singh's performance over the first three postseason events has sucked all the drama from a field of just 30 players. All the big Fijian has to do is finish all four rounds without getting DQ'd and he will rake in that $10 million bonus. But that's not to say 29 other guys won't be fighting for that first-place check of $1.26 million. So who will finish off their year with a bang at East Lake Golf Club? Our experts break down their predictions into four categories.
Want a different viewpoint on who might win? Try the ESPN.com FOREcaster.
| Tour Championship predictions | ||||
| Bob Harig ESPN.com golf writer |
Jason Sobel ESPN.com golf writer |
John Antonini Golf World senior editor |
Ron Sirak Golf World exec. editor |
|
| Horse for the Course |
Vijay Singh. The leader of the FedEx Cup standings has not finished outside the top 10 in his last five appearances at East Lake, and has a victory at the course in 2002 and a runner-up as far back as 10 years ago.
|
East Lake is a ball-striker's paradise, and as we witnessed during the Ryder Cup, Hunter Mahan is a ball-striker supreme. Should be a perfect fit.
|
Sergio Garcia shot a pair of 64s in the middle two rounds a year ago. Let's see if he can get some Ryder Cup revenge.
|
Jim Furyk. He finished second at East Lake in 2006 and is going there after clinching the winning point in the Ryder Cup.
|
| Birdie Buster |
Hunter Mahan. Coming off the high of the Ryder Cup, Mahan looks to improve his individual stock with a victory in Atlanta. He tied for fifth last year in his first appearance.
|
At No. 2 on the FedEx points list, Camilo Villegas can't win the $10 million unless he pulls a Jeff Gillooly on Vijay Singh. But he can post plenty of red numbers.
|
Hunter Mahan, fresh off his Ryder Cup success, will build on his T-5 here a year ago.
|
Bubba Watson. Think he's not a little amped up? That momentum will carry him down to Georgia.
|
| Super Sleeper |
Briny Baird. Wouldn't it be something if Baird got his first career victory at the Tour Championship? He has never qualified for the event previously, but did so with a hot FedEx Cup series. He's certainly got nothing to lose.
|
After a WD at the BMW Champ-ionship to witness the birth of his first child, Chad Campbell snuck into the Tour Championship field. Now he's playing with house money. |
Not sure anyone in the field of the top 30 points-earners in the FedEx Cup standings really qualifies. How about Kevin Sutherland?
|
Sergio Garcia. Has to be considered a sleeper after the way Anthony Kim waxed him at Valhalla.
|
| Winner |
Jim Furyk. It is hard to believe Furyk has never won this tournament and has not won on the PGA Tour this year. He takes care of both at East Lake.
|
For the second straight year, PGA Tour executives will breathe a huge sigh of relief when the never-in-doubt FedEx winner avoids leaving egg on their face by winning the final event, too. Vijay Singh makes it 3-for-4 in the playoffs.
|
Didn't Vijay Singh already win? OK, he didn't win the tournament, but he won the FedEx Cup. The event is secondary, so anyone will do. How about Trevor Immelman, who already has had success in Georgia this year?
|
Anthony Kim. The kid removed all doubts at the Ryder Cup that he will soon be No. 2 to you-know-who. |
East Lake is a ball-striker's paradise, and as we witnessed during the Ryder Cup,
At No. 2 on the FedEx points list,
After a WD at the BMW Champ-
Not sure anyone in the field of the top 30 points-earners in the FedEx Cup standings really qualifies. How about
Didn't Vijay Singh already win? OK, he didn't win the tournament, but he won the FedEx Cup. The event is secondary, so anyone will do. How about

