Tour Championship 2014: Tee Times, Dates, TV Schedule and Prize Money
The finale of the FedEx Cup playoffs begins Thursday at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Twenty-nine of the most consistent, hot golfers on the PGA Tour will comprise the exclusive field, and a $10 million bonus awaits the winner of the FedEx Cup.
Winning at East Lake doesn't necessarily guarantee a FedEx Cup title, but those near the top of the points standings are bound to be in contention amid the final-round race for the trophies.
Pairings are reset after each round, as opposed to after two rounds in regular events and major championships. Here is a look at the first-round tee times:
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| 11:45 a.m. | Gary Woodland |
| 11:50 a.m. | Brendon Todd, Hideki Matsuyama |
| 12 p.m. | Geoff Ogilvy, Justin Rose |
| 12:10 p.m. | Ryan Palmer, Kevin Na |
| 12:20 p.m. | Morgan Hoffmann, Webb Simpson |
| 12:30 p.m. | Cameron Tringale, Russell Henley |
| 12:40 p.m. | John Senden, Patrick Reed |
| 12:50 p.m. | Zach Johnson, Bill Haas |
| 1 p.m. | Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer |
| 1:10 p.m. | Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott |
| 1:20 p.m. | Rickie Fowler, Jason Day |
| 1:30 p.m. | Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar |
| 1:40 p.m. | Hunter Mahan, Jimmy Walker |
| 1:50 p.m. | Bubba Watson, Rory McIlroy |
| 2 p.m. | Chris Kirk, Billy Horschel |
The field is meant to be 30, but Dustin Johnson's hiatus has created a void that will leave one golfer playing alone throughout the tournament. Rex Hoggard of Golf Channel points out that this is unprecedented in the FedEx Cup era, which commenced in 2007:
That leaves Gary Woodland going solo to start first on Thursday morning, and he'll try to post a low number to set the pace. Woodland is a power player whose putting has held him back from reaching greater heights, but he was good enough to make this week's tournament.
Chris Kirk leads the FedEx Cup standings on the strength of his Deutsche Bank Championship triumph, but there are plenty of capable pursuers keen to track him down.
Check out the amazing pairings that have come together by way of FedEx Cup points, in addition to some vital Tour Championship information and a closer look at some of the biggest stars teeing it up in Atlanta.
Note: Statistics and information are courtesy of PGATour.com unless otherwise indicated.
When: Thursday, September 11 through Sunday, September 14
Where: East Lake Golf Club Atlanta, Georgia
Purse: $8,000,000; Winner's Share: $1,440,000
FedEx Cup Points: 2,500
| Thursday, September 11 | 1-6 p.m. | Golf Channel |
| Friday, September 12 | 1-6 p.m. | Golf Channel |
| Saturday, September 13 | 12-2:30 p.m.; 2:30-6 p.m | Golf Channel; NBC |
| Sunday, September 14 | 12-1:30 p.m.; 1:30-6 p.m | Golf Channel; NBC |
Analyzing Marquee Pairings
Leaders in the Clubhouse: Chris Kirk and Billy Horschel
To reference the earlier text for a moment, Woodland and Horschel are the same in that their games from tee to green feature plenty of flash. It's when they get to the putting surfaces that the trouble arises.
That hasn't been the case for Horschel as of late. After an uneven 2013-14 season, he's turned it on in the playoffs. Going off the momentum of a tie for second at the Deutsche Bank Championship, Horschel used a third-round 63 at the BMW Championship to spur his second PGA Tour victory.
Based on those two finishes, Shane Bacon of Yahoo Sports lamented the fact that Horschel wasn't chosen for the USA Ryder Cup team:
There's no doubting Horschel brings passion, emotion and raw talent to the course, and it should make for an unpredictable Tour Championship. Gaining 2.975 strokes putting on the field isn't likely to happen again at East Lake, so Horschel will have to continue his sharp ball-striking to clinch an unforeseen FedEx Cup trophy.
Kirk has credited a change in equipment to the success he's enjoyed over the past two seasons, per Callaway Golf:
An amazing performance at TPC Boston saw Kirk get the better of Rory McIlroy in a side-by-side duel over the final 36 holes. He isn't afraid of this stage, and with three wins under his belt, it wouldn't be too much of a surprise to see him in it to win it come Sunday.
It would be quite interesting for either Kirk or Horschel to walk away with the FedEx Cup, as neither will represent the U.S. in the Ryder Cup.
Intimidating Chasers: Bubba Watson and Rory McIlroy
McIlroy and Watson are locked in for the USA-Europe showdown at Gleneagles. These two are not only the closest to Kirk and Horschel in points, but they also have combined to win five of the last 12 majors.
Both had down seasons last year and weren't in the previous Tour Championship field. It is kind of crazy to ponder that fact in light of their major success. Watson has won the Masters twice—the only leg of the career Grand Slam McIlroy is missing. He is perhaps McIlroy's biggest impediment to a green jacket due to how Augusta National suits Watson's game.
This pair could go head-to-head in Sunday singles at the Ryder Cup, as they are the longest hitters on their respective teams. We might be getting a preview of that matchup too.
But first up is the Tour Championship in Atlanta, which boasts an $8 million purse.
Two four-putts cost McIlroy a chance to win at the BMW Championship. He tied for eighth, following up a tie for fifth at the Deutsche Bank Championship with some solid golf. McIlroy still feels confident in his standing of fourth entering East Lake:
Three straight 66s allowed Watson to finish runner-up to Horschel last week by two strokes. Ryan Burr of Golf Channel noted that it had been quite some time since Watson had pieced his game together:
East Lake is a long course, so it tends to suit players such as McIlroy and Watson. If either golfer heats up with the putter, he could run away with the event. A final-round 74 saw McIlroy tie for 10th at the 2012 Tour Championship, while Watson finished tied for fifth.
The closing par three plays 235 yards, while the par fives (Nos. 9 and 15) are 600 yards and 525 yards, respectively. Power and precision will be critical on those holes, giving McIlroy and Watson big advantages on key areas of the course.
If McIlroy wants to cement his status as the game's next all-time great, adding the FedEx Cup to his accomplishments would go a long way. It would help get those not yet sold on the postseason to buy in right away.
True Grit: Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar
East Lake's length may give Furyk and Kuchar trouble. But their games tend to adapt to any venue, and this week should be no exception.
Furyk has been playing with a chip on his shoulder for a number of years. Just when it appears he's on the decline, he finds a way to contend in a big tournament. All that's missing is a win. The last one came at the 2010 Tour Championship, allowing Furyk to clinch the FedEx Cup.
The backward-hat final putt and Furyk's boisterous reaction on the last hole to seal the win are among the iconic images in the playoffs' young history. If he were to win again, he would join Tiger Woods as the only two-time FedEx Cup champion.
Furyk hasn't finished outside the top 25 since late May. And how's this for some trivia? Furyk and Kuchar are the highest-ranked golfers on the USA Ryder Cup team, per Golf Digest's Mike O'Malley:
Absent a major on his resume, the FedEx Cup is a logical step in Kuchar's career, which has been characterized by steady play and consistent contention. Kuchar has 11 top-10 finishes in 2013-14 but just one win to show for all those strong efforts.
Winning the FedEx Cup could be the springboard Kuchar needs to go on and win his maiden major next season.
Kuchar has struggled in Atlanta, though, registering just one top 10 in his previous four East Lake appearances. He enters the Tour Championship off a tie for 29th and a tie for 46th in his past two starts.
The Young, Due Duo: Rickie Fowler and Jason Day
A combined three PGA Tour wins between Fowler and Day is disappointing and surprising, to say the least.
That's as many wins as Kirk has in his career. Meanwhile, Fowler and Day have combined for 13 top 10s in the majors since 2010. Fowler finished in the top five in every major this season, while Day has had close calls of his own in golf's biggest events.
Day's season has been riddled with injuries, and he had to withdraw from the BMW Championship. Bob Harig of ESPN.com weighed in on Day's perpetual plight:
Golf Channel's Todd Lewis provided an update regarding Day's condition on Tuesday:
To say these young phenoms in Day (26) and Fowler (25) are due would be an understatement.
This FedEx Cup could be an incredible springboard for Day or Fowler if one of them wins it all.
The odds favor Fowler at the moment, as he's healthy and fresh off a tie for fourth last week at Cherry Hills. What will be key for the young American is a good start. Fowler ranks 108th in scoring average before the cut and sixth in final-round scoring average.
Watch for a breakout Fowler victory if he's within striking distance through 54 holes.
Past world No. 1 Adam Scott and prodigy Jordan Spieth aren't to be overlooked in their quests for the FedEx Cup, and that just goes to show how stacked this field is. With so much on the line and legacies to be defined, the playoff system has achieved the goal of bringing never-before-seen excitement to the end of the calendar year.
Despite the schedule being a little tight in conflict with the Ryder Cup, the FedEx Cup playoffs provide a strong dose of quality golf after the majors are over. The players have shown up and played well, and some, including Horschel, have salvaged underwhelming seasons with brilliant golf at the wire.
The Tour Championship figures to be an epic chase for the bundle of money waiting at the end—and the increasing prestige that comes with the lucrative spoils.
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