{"id":15874,"date":"2025-08-19T16:35:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T16:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.betspertsgolf.com\/raw-forum\/?post_type=article&p=15874"},"modified":"2025-08-19T16:35:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T16:35:37","slug":"2025-tour-championship-noonans-outright-picks-and-preview","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/api.betspertsgolf.com\/raw-forum\/article\/2025-tour-championship-noonans-outright-picks-and-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Tour Championship – Noonan\u2019s Outright Picks and Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025 season and FedExCup Playoffs come to an end this week at East Lake Golf Club, the<\/span> annual host of the Tour Championship. As you likely already know, we have a <\/span>big<\/span> change in the structure of the event, with the much-maligned starting strokes format eliminated this season. The 30 golfers in the field will start at even par, with the winner of this week’s event earning the title of FedExCup champion and the $10 million top prize that comes with it.<\/span><\/p>\n

East Lake saw a significant renovation <\/span>prior to<\/span> last year’s event. <\/span>Hundreds of trees were removed<\/span> from the property, every inch of turf was removed and replanted, and all 18 greens <\/span>were fully redesigned<\/span>. Players talked about how sight lines changed drastically from previous years, and Andrew Green, the architect who spearheaded the project, was correct when he said, “nothing is the same, not a single golf shot on the property.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The removal of trees and widening of fairways made the course play <\/span>a bit<\/span> easier off the tee, though there’s still a premium on finding the Zoysia grass fairways off the tee.<\/span> The Bermuda grass rough is long and penal due to <\/span>the<\/span> grabby nature <\/span>of it<\/span> and the unpredictable lies it creates for approach shots.<\/span><\/p>\n

The green complexes are firm and fast, and the course has a lot more contouring and slope than it did before Green’s work, which impacts both putting and approach shots. They also increased the challenge around the green, with more shaved runoffs and collection areas around the green instead of thick Bermuda grass aprons that previously slowed down wayward approach shots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, East Lake is a long par-70 track, playing at 7,440 from the tips. Lake is in the name, so we have water hazards on eight holes. Handicapping this event is a bit tricky this year. First, we only have one year of data on the new layout, so I don’t want to make any sweeping assumptions based on just four rounds of play 12 months ago. Second, there has to be some effect on how the field approaches this week compared to past seasons <\/span>now<\/span> that the starting strokes <\/span>are removed<\/span>. It’s a no-cut 30-man field with a <\/span>huge<\/span> prize regardless of where you finish, but the reward for winning is significant. That was never an option for most of the field here in years past, but now it is. Will we see a more aggressive approach for some?<\/span><\/p>\n

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For more course details, check out\u00a0<\/span>Ron’s<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>course preview<\/span><\/a>. It’s the best in the business, bar none. Also, don’t forget to check out our new research tools, the course <\/span>stats page<\/span><\/a>, along with the\u00a0<\/span>Tournament Cheat Sheet.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Key\u00a0<\/span>Rabbit Hole<\/span><\/a> Stats This Week:<\/span><\/h2>\n