The conclusion to a different unbelievable season on the PGA Tour concludes this week in Atlanta because the 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs wrap with its closing leg held at East Lake Golf Membership. An enormous $10 million winner’s share is on the road for whomever finishes atop the leaderboard on the 2025 Tour Championship, and there’s no one who enters the match with extra wind in his sails than Scottie Scheffler.
Already a five-time winner on the PGA Tour for the second straight season — the primary to perform that feat since Tiger Woods (1999-2003, 2006-07) — Scheffler will start play in Atlanta not solely because the reigning Tour Championship winner however having captured final week’s BMW Championship simply outdoors Baltimore. Whereas Rory McIlroy has received the FedEx Cup 3 times, Scheffler is trying to change into the primary to step into the winner’s circle throughout consecutive campaigns.
McIlroy’s season has been crammed with strikes and gutters, essentially the most notable of the previous coming at Augusta Nationwide again in April when he lastly received the Masters and accomplished the long-desired profession grand slam. Whereas the Ulsterman has seen different successes in 2025, he is fallen flat in some vital moments and struggled in these playoffs, purposefully skipping the St. Jude Championship two weeks in the past earlier than ending 12 pictures again of Scheffler final week.
Scheffler (3/2) and McIlroy (17/2) are the clear favorites this week at East Lake, and they may open play collectively at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday. However with adjustments to the Tour Championship scoring format, they now not possess a bonus past their apparent expertise. Prior season finales noticed the prime 30 gamers start play with staggered strokes (Scheffler would have began 10 beneath with McIlroy at 8 beneath … and so forth); nevertheless, the PGA Tour this yr determined that each competitor in Atlanta will start at even par offering an equal alternative on the $10 million first-place payout.
Even when one doesn’t raise the FedEx Cup on the finish of the Tour Championship, there are nonetheless eight different seven-figure paydays out there. Second place will earn $5 million whereas eighth will herald a shade over $1 million for taking part in the ultimate 72 holes of the season. Golfers will be capable to add to their huge totals from the season even when they do not come out on prime.
Will the Tour Championship finally come right down to Scheffler, McIlroy or the sector? May captain Keegan Bradley make a run forward of the Ryder Cup? May Tommy Fleetwood bounce again from his excruciating closing spherical on the St. Jude Championship for the most important victory of his profession? Our CBS Sports activities consultants debate precisely that under. Let’s check out a full set of Tour Championship picks and predictions as we try to venture who will win — and what is going to occur — on the closing PGA Tour occasion of 2025.
2025 Tour Championship picks
Odds through FanDuel Sportsbook
Patrick McDonald
Winner — Russell Henley (20-1): It is a 30-man area. Half of the gamers aren’t in one of the best of type, but Henley remains to be priced at 20-1. Signal me up on Tuesday and twice on Sunday. Henley has rattled off six straight top-20 finishes courting again to the start of June and returns to his dwelling state of Georgia the place he notched a podium end final season within the closing Tour Championship to function beginning strokes. The highest 30 all beginning at even par this week ought to solely bolster his case.
Sleeper — Harris English (45-1): Coming off a quiet T12 end on the BMW Championship, English ought to be capable to roll that momentum into some extra at East Lake. One other Georgia Bulldog, the Farmers Insurance coverage Open winner has discovered his footing this season with driver in hand. That hasn’t been the case for his earlier journeys to Atlanta, however with a gradual eating regimen of fairways and greens on his menu, English ought to be capable to roll into rivalry.
Favourite who undoubtedly will not win — Rory McIlroy (17/2): The three-time FedEx Cup champion might have one eye on upcoming begins on the BMW PGA Championship and Irish Open with the opposite on the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. His first begin again since The Open was uninspiring regardless of the T12 consequence that it produced at Caves Valley. He drove it properly in Baltimore — definitely not the case for him over the previous few months — however huge numbers added up quick, and he finally stood nowhere near the highest of the leaderboard.
Shock prediction — U.S. Ryder Cup image turns into crystal clear: It looks like everybody and their mom is jockeying for the ultimate couple of spots on this United States workforce, however after play concludes on the Tour Championship, the guessing will probably be over. Whereas picks will probably be introduced subsequent Wednesday, captain Keegan Bradley may have no mulling over to do after Sunday’s closing spherical concludes. And sure, a very good begin from the captain himself will assist on this effort.
Robby Kalland
Winner — Scottie Scheffler (3/2): There is not any cause to leap off my selection from earlier than the beginning of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, even when he is an awesome favourite with a $100 paying simply $150 in income and even when it is frankly hysterical to see somebody at this odds given a area of this power. Scheffler is comfy at East Lake, the place he received final yr, and he is enjoying one of the best golf of his profession proper now, which is terrifying for everybody else. Search for Scheffler for the primary golfer to return to again on the Tour Championship.
Sleeper — Harris English (45-1): English has performed properly all yr, and he is proven up on the primary web page of the leaderboard in lots vital tournaments. I would not be shocked if he is there once more on the weekend on the Tour Championship. Locking up a assured spot on the Ryder Cup workforce final Sunday, he can play freely with out burden this week in Atlanta.
Favourite who undoubtedly will not win — Patrick Cantlay (25-1): Positive, he is performed properly at East Lake previously, however what type has Cantlay proven of late that warrants him being seventh on the percentages sheet?! The notably regarding concern along with his sport proper now could be the fall-off with the putter, which was lengthy a power however has dropped off to being merely common this season (59th in strokes gained).
Shock prediction — Scheffler vs. McIlroy closing pairing on Sunday: All yr we needed some type of Scottie-Rory showdown through which the 2 finest gamers on the planet had been on the prime of the leaderboard on the identical time close to the top of a match. What if we lastly get it on the Tour Championship? The duo mixed to win three of the 4 majors this season, they usually had been the one two golfers with three or extra match victories on the season. The closest we obtained to an precise duel was Saturday at The Open Championship when McIlroy made his cost just for Scheffler to proceed pulling away. They each have nice observe data at East Lake, and maybe we’ll get a Sunday preview of what can be the most important Ryder Cup singles match doable this yr in New York.
Who will win the Tour Championship, and which longshots will stun {the golfing} world? Go to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard and finest bets, all from the mannequin that is nailed 16 golf majors heading into the weekend, together with the previous 4 Masters, and is up over $8,000 since June 2020.
