The Tour Championship, which began on August 27, 2026, features a substantial $40 million prize purse, with the winner set to receive $10 million and the title of FedEx Cup champion. This event marks the culmination of the PGA Tour season, drawing significant attention from golf enthusiasts, including those in Aiken who follow professional golf, especially given the city’s strong equestrian and golf tourism legacy, including the historic Palmetto Golf Club.
Thirty golfers are competing in a traditional 72-hole tournament, all starting at even par. The format for this year’s championship at East Lake differs from previous years, with no staggered starting positions based on FedEx Cup standings. The lowest score at the end of the tournament will determine the winner.
Scottie Scheffler enters the Tour Championship ranked first in the FedEx Cup standings for the fifth consecutive year. However, his top ranking does not provide a starting advantage in this specific tournament. Tommy Fleetwood is the defending champion, having secured his first PGA Tour title in Atlanta last year. Wyndham Clark, who won the BMW Championship last week in St. Louis, is also a key contender, setting up a potential competition for PGA Tour Player of the Year honors.
Three golfers, Gary Woodland, Patrick Cantlay, and Robert MacIntyre, qualified for the Tour Championship after their performances at the BMW Championship. Conversely, Kurt Kitayama, Rickie Fowler, and Bud Cauley concluded their seasons as they did not make the top 30.
The prize money distribution for the tournament is as follows: The winner receives $10 million, second place earns $5 million, and third place takes home $3.705 million. Fourth place is awarded $3.2 million, and fifth place receives $2.75 million. The payouts continue down to 30th place, which receives $355,000.
