The crowning event of the 2023 FedEx Cup Playoffs gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 24, when the Tour Championship tees off from East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Rory McIlroy is the defending FedEx Cup champion and he enters the 2023 Tour Championship, the final event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, ranked third after racking up two victories and 12 top-10 finishes this season. 

Scottie Scheffler currently sits atop the FedEx Cup standings, followed by Viktor Hovland, McIlroy, and Jon Rahm, who's recorded four wins this season. The Tour Championship features a staggered system, meaning Scheffler will start the Tour Championship at 10-under par. Hovland will start two strokes behind the leader, while McIlroy will start with a score of 7-under. Jon Rahm begins at 6-under, Lucas Glover at 5-under, and the rest of the field will be from 4-under to even par. The winner of the FedEx Cup will receive $18 million.

Scheffler has not missed a cut in 22 starts this season, and he is the +140 favorite (risk $100 to win $140) in the latest 2023 Tour Championship odds. McIlroy (+330), Hovland (+500), and Jon Rahm (+800) are among the other 2023 Tour Championship contenders atop the PGA odds board. 

Rory McIlroy's Recent Form

McIlroy has been the definition of consistency since missing the cut at the Masters in April. The 34-year-old has finished T-9 or better in each of his last nine starts, which includes a victory at the Genesis Scottish Open in July. McIlroy is coming off a fourth-place finish at the BMW Championship and he's had success at the Tour Championship over the years. McIlroy became the first three-time winner of the FedEx Cup last year after rallying from six shots back to overtake Scheffler in Sunday's final round.

The four-time major champion has been able to secure those positive results thanks to his ability to put himself in advantageous positions off the tee. McIlroy currently ranks first in driving distance (325.7) and second in strokes gained: off the tee (1.023). And while he ranks 158th in driving accuracy (53.47%), McIlroy can make up ground with his iron play. He ranks third in strokes gained: approach to green (0.831), which has helped McIlroy average 4.30 birdies per round this season, the sixth-best mark on the PGA Tour. 

McIlroy's putting has been a bit inconsistent this season, but he enters the Tour Championship ranked 33rd in putts per round (28.42) and 34th in putting average (1.734).

About East Lake Golf Club

East Lake Goif Club is the oldest golf course in the city of Atlanta and it has hosted every Tour Championship since 2005. The par-70 layout will play at approximately 7,346 yards this week. 

Tiger Woods (257) holds the 72-hole record at East Lake, while Zach Johnson holds the 18-hole record (60). The original architect was  Tom Bendelow, then both Donald Ross and Rees Jones put their stamp on the historic Atlanta layout.

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