Tournament Championship Picks, Odds 2022: Expert Predictions, Favorites to Win the FedEx Cup Qualifiers from the betting arena
The 2021-22 PGA Tour season is one for some of the top golfers in the sport, and it all comes to an end this week at the Tour Championship. The FedEx Cup Playoffs race has been hotter than ever with the likes of Cameron Smith, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau all experiencing year-long showers. Despite this breadth of top talent, it’s no surprise that world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was at the top of the leaderboard all season ahead of the post-season finale at East Lake.
Commanding the lead for most of the season, Scheffler was able to pull through his hot springs, including four wins to take pole position at the Tour Championship. The masters champions have a chance the most money ever for a PGA Tour season but there will be no shortage of worthy candidates in Atlanta.
Reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year Patrick Cantlay was outstanding in 2022, and his persistence finally paid off at the BMW Championship as he successfully defended his title for his first solo win of the year. The 30-year-old became the first person to defend a playoff and will now try to be the first to win the FedEx Cup crown in a row. He will start the Tour Championship two strokes behind Scheffler at under eight.
The ex-FedEx Cup champions are Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, and this year’s Tour win is sure to be electric. In a season filled with unexpected twists and turns – both on and off the course – more of the same will be in store this week in East Lake with the FedEx Cup and $18 million grand prize for grabs. .
Check out all the predictions and picks from our CBS Sports experts as we try to predict who will win and what will happen at the final event of the season. Odds via Caesars Sportsbook.
Expert picks and predictions for the 2022 Tour Championship
Kyle Porter, senior writer on golf
Winner – Scottie Scheffler (May 12): It is true that, at the age of 10, he had a start on the field at the Tour Championship. It is also true that, in the eight rounds played at this golf course, he is seventh among the best players in the field. Its also yes, he was about to have a good T3 last week at the BMW Championship. But perhaps the reason I believe most that Scheffler will win is because he has owned the entire season. We have seen this happen many times. before that – Spieth in 2015, Thomas in 2017 – where one star ended the year with a win to beat all the rest. It’s the most invisible of all the reasons Scheffler could win this week, but it can also be the most compelling.
The Sleeper – Viktor Hovland (65-1): I went down the board as far as I could to find the player I thought could walk on the weirdest hearth. Hovland is that guy (although you could also call me Joaquin Niemann). He will start in bottom 2, eight years behind Scheffler, but he played well last year (65 on Sunday to finish T4 on the shadow standings). While he’s not to the point of being particularly feisty, I’m going to play Hovland, who’s been a microwave throughout his career and hopefully he shoots 66 in Round 1 so you have something to do. defense.
Top 10 courses – Xander Schauffele: Can’t go against Schauffele, who is bottom 6 with the following finishes at East Lake in the last 5 years: 1, T7, 2, T2, T5. I have no other evidence to present to Judge Beth L. Freeman.
The star definitely won’t win – Jordan Spieth: Not only is he in eight behind Scheffler, but he’s not there for Spieth right now like he was when he won the RBC Legacy and almost did the same thing at Byron Nelson earlier this season.
Surprise Prediction – Low Cameron will be a surprise: Smith or Young? I’ll go with the second even though the former – who looks set to be arriving at LIV Golf a week after the Championship – has put together a significantly better year. Smith will start a hit ahead of Young and have beaten him in six of the eight tournaments they have played together this year, but he has struggled on this course and will likely head into next week. after. Also, that’s why they call it a surprise prediction because the world No. 2 to lose a match against the PGA Tour champion at short notice would be a real surprise.
Lowest lap: 64 (-6)
Winning score: -23
Winner’s Sunday Score: 68 (-2)
Patrick McDonald, golf writer
Winner – Scottie Scheffler (May 12): The world No. 1 has been the best player of 2022 and will end a memorable year in the fashion field. He started the Tour Championship with a two-stroke lead, and while his history at East Lake isn’t much, it’s remarkable. On his debut in Atlanta two years ago, his 72-hole total was second only to Schauffele’s. Simply put, if the hitter cooperates, Scheffler is your FedEx Cup champion.
The Sleeper – Billy Horschel (175-1): It’s hard to really look in the direction of any sleeper, but Horschel proved defiant last season. He will start the week at 1 o’clock and go to the East Lake flying under the radar. Florida’s production hasn’t been great since his impressive win at the Memorial, but in his mind, he may still have something to prove to win the captain’s pick. for the US Presidents Cup team – though I think he’s a lock. East Lake is indeed a great fit for Horschel’s game, and his gritty play has come to life at the BMW Championship.
Top 10 courses – Jon Rahm: The Spaniard is my pick for a low 72-hole total this week – not counting a shaky start. Rahm played superbly over the weekend at the BMW Championship as he hit 10 birdies with 0 bogey to collect another top 10 finish at the FedEx Cup Playoffs. He signed rounds of 68 or higher in seven of his last eight at East Lake and was extremely dangerous when he started to find his shot on the pitch.
The star definitely won’t win – Justin Thomas: I originally wrote about Will Zalatoris, but since he’s withdrawn, I’ll opt for another bold choice about Thomas instead. Having been a winner here in the past, Thomas is simply not in the middle of the quality that got him to the 2017 FedEx Cup. The PGA Championship winner hasn’t managed to finish in the top 10 since Canada. Open wide and has struggled on the pitch. last month.
Surprise prediction – Sepp Straka takes a serious run: I’ve made fun of the big Austrian both online and behind closed doors, but make no mistake, he’s capable in this setting. Straka showed a lot of boldness in the playoff loss to Zalatoris, and his game could follow the same trajectory as this past spring when he overcame the Honda Classic. His four top 10 finishes in 2022 have been at PGA National, TPC Sawgrass, Harbor Town Golf Links and TPC Southwind – all shorter Bermuda lanyard courses with three in the southeastern United States. Ky. The former Georgia star will surprise his return to Peach State.
Lowest lap: 64 (-6)
Winning score: -21
Winner’s Sunday Score: 68 (-2)
Who will win the 2022 Tour Championship, and what long shots will wow the golfing world? Visit SportsLine to see expected standings – all from the model that nailed eight golf majors over the weekend – and find out.
