The 2026 Tour Championship brings the PGA Tour season to a dramatic conclusion this week as the final 30 players in the FedExCup standings battle it out at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Scottie Scheffler heads the betting as the world’s number one looks to cap another outstanding season with the FedExCup, while Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark and Xander Schauffele are among those looking to deny him.
With $40 million in prize money up for grabs and $10 million going to the winner, there is plenty at stake over four days in Georgia.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Tour Championship, including the date, start time, course, favourites, odds, prize money, format and how to watch.
– View our latest Golf markets.
When is the Tour Championship 2026?
The 2026 Tour Championship takes place from Thursday, August 27 to Sunday, August 30.
The opening round gets underway at 16:00 Irish and UK time on Thursday, with the tournament continuing through to Sunday’s final round.
There is no cut at the Tour Championship, meaning all 30 players will complete four rounds.
Tour Championship 2026 schedule
- Thursday, August 27: Round one
- Friday, August 28: Round two
- Saturday, August 29: Round three
- Sunday, August 30: Final round
The winner after 72 holes will be crowned the 2026 FedExCup champion.
Where is the Tour Championship being played?
The tournament is being held at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
East Lake is one of the most historic venues on the PGA Tour and has hosted the Tour Championship in its current annual slot since 2004, with previous editions also held there in 1998, 2000 and 2002.
The course is a 7,440-yard par 70 and features two par fives, 12 par fours and four par threes.
East Lake underwent a major renovation ahead of the 2024 Tour Championship, with bunkers moved and reshaped, trees removed, mounding added and all 18 greens revised.
That means historical course form needs to be treated with some caution, although strong ball-striking remains an important requirement around East Lake.
Who is favourite to win the Tour Championship?
Scottie Scheffler is the clear favourite to win the 2026 Tour Championship.
The world number one is 10/3 in the outright market, with Rory McIlroy the second favourite at 15/2. Xander Schauffele follows at 10/1, with Ludvig Åberg 16/1, Wyndham Clark 16/1, Patrick Cantlay 16/1 and Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa also prominent in the market at 18/1. (4 E/W places).
Odds are subject to change.
Scheffler’s position at the head of the market is hardly surprising. He has spent much of the season at the top of the FedExCup standings and remains the player everyone else has to beat.
However, there is an important difference between this year’s Tour Championship and the format used previously.
No starting strokes at the Tour Championship
For the second consecutive year, all 30 players will begin the Tour Championship at even par.
The PGA Tour scrapped the previous starting-strokes system in 2025. Under that format, players started the tournament with an advantage based on their FedExCup position, with the leader beginning as many as 10 shots ahead of the 30th-ranked player.
That system has now been removed.
Instead, the Tour Championship is a straight 72-hole stroke-play tournament, with the player recording the lowest score across four rounds winning the FedExCup.
That arguably makes the tournament easier to understand for fans and puts even greater emphasis on performance at East Lake itself.
What is at stake at the Tour Championship?
The biggest prize is the FedExCup.
The player who finishes with the lowest 72-hole score will be crowned the PGA Tour’s season-long champion.
There is also a huge financial incentive.
The Tour Championship has a $40 million prize purse, with $10 million going to the winner.
The runner-up receives $5 million, while every player in the 30-man field is guaranteed at least $355,000.
Tour Championship prize money
| Finish | FedExCup payout |
|---|---|
| 1st | $10,000,000 |
| 2nd | $5,000,000 |
| 3rd | $3,705,000 |
| 4th | $3,200,000 |
| 5th | $2,750,000 |
| 10th | $735,000 |
| 20th | $445,000 |
| 30th | $355,000 |
East Lake Golf Club course guide
East Lake is a very different test to many of the courses encountered during the regular PGA Tour season.
The par-70 layout measures 7,440 yards, while firm and fast Bermuda greens can make putting and approach play particularly important. A SubAir drainage system also means the greens are capable of remaining firm even when weather conditions threaten to soften the course.
Finding fairways has historically been difficult at East Lake, making accuracy off the tee important.
However, following the major redesign in 2024, previous course form should not necessarily be taken at face value.
The key ingredient remains quality ball-striking.
East Lake key facts
- Course: East Lake Golf Club
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Length: 7,440 yards
- Par: 70
- Course type: Parkland
- Par fives: 2
- Par fours: 12
- Par threes: 4
- Course record: 257, Tiger Woods, 2007
- 18-hole record: 60, Zach Johnson, 2007
Who are the players to watch?
Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler is the obvious starting point.
The world number one has been the dominant player in the FedExCup standings for much of the campaign and heads to East Lake as the favourite.
However, he did have health concerns during the BMW Championship, meaning his condition will be worth monitoring ahead of Thursday’s opening round.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy is the biggest threat to Scheffler according to the betting market.
The Northern Irishman arrives after finishing third at the BMW Championship.
Wyndham Clark
Clark comes into the Tour Championship with serious momentum after winning the BMW Championship.
His victory at Bellerive secured his place in the season finale and moved him into the group of leading contenders for the FedExCup.
Ludvig Åberg
Åberg is another player attracting significant betting support.
The Swede’s combination of length and ball-striking could make him dangerous around East Lake.
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele is another proven performer in the FedExCup Playoffs and remains firmly in the conversation.
His ability to perform consistently across four rounds makes him an interesting contender in a tournament where there is no starting-stroke advantage.
Who qualified for the Tour Championship?
The field consists of the top 30 players in the FedExCup standings following the BMW Championship.
The 2026 field includes:
- Scottie Scheffler
- Rory McIlroy
- Cameron Young
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Wyndham Clark
- Ludvig Åberg
- Sam Burns
- Xander Schauffele
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Collin Morikawa
- Hideki Matsuyama
- Viktor Hovland
- Justin Rose
- Robert MacIntyre
- Adam Scott
- Tom Kim
- Ryan Fox
The full 30-man field represents the culmination of the FedExCup season, with the qualification process narrowing from 70 players at the FedEx St. Jude Championship to 50 at the BMW Championship before the final 30 reached East Lake.
Can Tommy Fleetwood defend his Tour Championship title?
Yes.
Tommy Fleetwood is the defending champion after winning the 2025 Tour Championship.
He returns to East Lake looking to become the first player to successfully defend the title under the straight-up 72-hole format.
Fleetwood is a genuine contender again, although the betting market has him behind the likes of Scheffler, McIlroy, Åberg, Clark, Schauffele and Burns.
What is the weather forecast for the Tour Championship?
Conditions are expected to be warm and generally calm, although there is a risk of thunderstorms during the opening two days.
The forecast currently suggests a sunnier weekend, but any disruption on Thursday or Friday could have an impact on playing conditions and potentially the betting picture.
How to watch the Tour Championship in Ireland and the UK
Golf fans in Ireland and the UK can watch the Tour Championship live on Sky Sports Golf.
Coverage begins on Thursday, August 27, with the first group scheduled to tee off at 16:00 Irish and UK time.
The tournament continues across Sky Sports throughout the weekend, culminating with Sunday’s final round and the crowning of the 2026 FedExCup champion.
Tour Championship 2026 FAQs
When is the Tour Championship 2026?
The 2026 Tour Championship takes place from August 27 to August 30, 2026.
What time does the Tour Championship start?
The first group tees off at 16:00 Irish and UK time on Thursday, August 27.
Where is the Tour Championship?
The tournament is being played at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
Who is favourite to win the Tour Championship?
Scottie Scheffler is the favourite, with Rory McIlroy the second favourite in the outright market.
How many players compete in the Tour Championship?
There are 30 players in the field.
Is there a cut at the Tour Championship?
No. All 30 players play all four rounds.
Does the Tour Championship use starting strokes?
No. All players begin at even par, with the lowest 72-hole score winning the tournament and FedExCup.
How much does the Tour Championship winner get?
The winner receives $10 million from the $40 million prize purse.
Who won the Tour Championship in 2025?
Tommy Fleetwood is the defending champion.
Where can I watch the Tour Championship in Ireland?
The tournament is live on Sky Sports Golf.
Tour Championship 2026 betting preview
The final event of the PGA Tour season provides one last opportunity to find a winner at East Lake.
Scheffler deserves his place at the head of the market, but the removal of starting strokes means every player begins with exactly the same score.
That makes this a fascinating four-round shootout.
With McIlroy arriving off a third-place finish at the BMW Championship, Clark carrying winning momentum and Åberg, Schauffele and Burns all prominent in the betting, there are plenty of alternatives to the short-priced favourite.
The tournament gets underway on Thursday, August 27, with the $10 million first prize and FedExCup waiting for the player who can handle East Lake best over 72 holes.
