To the victor go the spoils. Viktor Hovland banks US$18 million after winning the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club. The Norwegian earned golf’s largest event payday by collecting the PGA Tour’s season-long FedExCup. Hovland outlasted Xander Schauffele by five shots during a Sunday shoot out between two of golf’s hottest properties. Hovland’s 31 and Schauffele’s 30 combined for a sizzling 9-under on the front nine holes. The stunning 61 shots was the best opening nine by a final pairing at the TOUR Championship since 2007.
Hovland produced a master class performance with rounds of 68, 64, 66 and 63 to reach 27-under. The 25-year-old is the third youngest player to lift the FedExCup trophy. Hovland started the final round with a six-shot lead over Schauffele. His flawless Sunday scorecard looked impressive. The bogey-free round included seven birdies. Hovland got off to a hot start with four birdies over the opening six holes. He then finished out his season with consecutive birdies at the final three holes. The now six-time PGA Tour winner won three of his last eight PGA Tour starts.
Schauffele, aged 29, claimed solo second place at 22 under. The world No. 6 continued his love affair for East Lake scoring an 8-under 62 final round for his 28th consecutive round at par or better at the Atlanta, Georgia layout. It was his equal best low round for the year. The American, who boasts seven PGA Tour titles, owns top five finishes in six of the last seven FedExCup seasons.
Wyndham Clark capped off his major winning breakthrough season with solo third place at 16-under. The 29-year-old American banks $US 5 million after carding a superb 5-under 65 on Sunday. Clark collected his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Wells Fargo in May. A month later, he scored the US Open by one shot over Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy was looking to become the first back-to-back winner at the FedExCup. The 34-year-old Northern Irishman, who owns three FedExCup trophies, took outright fourth place at 14-under.
Former FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay finished in 5th place at 13-under. The 31-year-old American hoisted the FedExCup trophy in 2021.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler started the week ranked number one on the FedExCup standings. The 27-year-old American never recovered from a shocking triple bogey at the 15th hole in round one. The three-over tally at the par 3 was his first triple bogey in 2,179 holes (121 rounds) on the PGA Tour. Scheffler signed for an even par final round to reach 11-under and finish in a tie for 6th place with England’s Tommy Fleetwood and compatriot Collin Morikawa.
Jon Rahm entered the Playoffs three-event series holding the lead for the FedExCup. Rahm was unable to convert his lead into earning his maiden FedExCup. The two-time major winner ended his season with a 4-over 74 for a T18 result at the TOUR Championship. The 28-year-old Spaniard is predicted to win the Player of The Year award after collecting four wins during the PGA Tour season including The Masters at Augusta.
Jason Day was the only Australian in the field at East Lake. The 35-year-old closed out his most successful season since 2018 with a 3-over 73 to finish at 3-over and in 28th place. Day won the AT&T Byron Nelson in May and enjoyed a runner-up performance at The Open Championship.
The PGA Tour will resume in California on September 14 for the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort. Max Homa is the defending champion.
1. Viktor Hovland -27
2. Xander Schauffele -22
3. Wyndham Clark -16
4. Rory McIlroy -14
5. Patrick Cantlay -13
T6. Tommy Fleetwood -11
T6. Scottie Scheffler -11
T6. Colin Morikawa -11
T9. Sam Burns -10
T9. Matt Fitzpatrick -10
T9. Max Homa -10
T9. Adam Schenk -10
T9. Keegan Bradley -10
Australian
28. Jason Day +3
Photo credit: Mike Ehrmann /Getty Images
