Scheffler, Woodland Offer Two Paths to East Lake

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 28, 2026

Scottie Scheffler, recovering from recent illness, leads the field as the favorite at the Tour Championship, while Gary Woodland returns after serious health battles, both competing under a new even-par scoring format. The winner at East Lake will claim the Tour Championship title and the FedEx Cup, with the event marking the final years at this venue before a playoff format change in 2028.

ATLANTA — As the Tour Championship tees off this week at East Lake Golf Club, two contrasting storylines have emerged in the 30-player field vying for the US$10 million FedEx Cup prize.

Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer and current leader in the FedEx Cup standings, enters the event as the favorite. Scheffler, who has made seven consecutive appearances at the Tour Championship with several top finishes, is aiming to add to his success at East Lake. The venue holds significant meaning in his career, having been the site of both a narrow defeat in 2022 to Rory McIlroy and his breakthrough FedEx Cup victory in 2024. Despite recovering from hand, foot and mouth disease—an illness that caused considerable discomfort and difficulty gripping his club in recent weeks—Scheffler reported being about 95 percent recovered as the event began.

In contrast, Gary Woodland is making a return to the Tour Championship for the first time in seven years after overcoming serious health challenges, including brain surgery last year to remove a tumor. Woodland, who currently holds the 18th spot in the FedEx Cup standings after a strong finish at the BMW Championship, has faced ongoing physical and psychological struggles including post-traumatic stress disorder and interruptions during tournament rounds caused by external distractions. He has expressed a determined mindset to compete with purpose, emphasizing there are no strokes given in this year’s format—meaning all players start on equal footing. “I’m here playing with a purpose,” Woodland said, rejecting the idea of a celebratory appearance simply for qualifying in the top 30.

The Tour Championship’s format underwent a significant change starting in 2025, eliminating the staggered stroke format that previously gave players a head start based on FedEx Cup points. Instead, all participants now begin the tournament at even par, reinforcing the principle that victory in the final event also secures the FedEx Cup title. Tommy Fleetwood won the first event under the new format in 2025, though it was noted that Scheffler would have been the FedEx Cup champion had the previous scoring system been in place.

East Lake will continue hosting the Tour Championship through 2027, completing a 24-year run as the season-ending site. Starting in 2028, the FedEx Cup final will transition to a new two-week, match-play playoff series held at rotating venues. Despite this change, East Lake remains a regular consideration for future championship events.

Both Scheffler and Woodland embody different chapters of resilience and excellence on the PGA Tour. Scheffler’s consistency and previous triumphs position him as a strong contender, while Woodland’s return from adversity adds an emotionally compelling dimension to the competition. The tournament’s first round began on August 27 with Scheffler slated to play in the final pairing. The outcome at East Lake this week will determine who claims both the Tour Championship title and the season-long FedEx Cup crown.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.