Golf's season finale tees off Thursday at East Lake with $40M purse

The 2026 Tour Championship begins Thursday at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, featuring a $40 million prize pool. Scottie Scheffler is the betting favorite at +333, while last year's winner Tommy Fleetwood is also in the field. First-round coverage starts at 11 a.m. ET, with streaming available through Fubo.
The Tour Championship's 25-player field will battle across four rounds at East Lake's demanding 7,440-yard, par-70 layout, with the $40 million purse representing one of golf's richest season-ending prizes. Scottie Scheffler enters as the betting favorite at +333, while defending champion Tommy Fleetwood sits at +2000 odds. Thursday's marquee pairing features Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele teeing off at 12:54 p.m. ET.
Coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET with streaming available through Fubo and tickets sold via StubHub. The field blends established stars like Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, and Hideki Matsuyama with long-shot contenders such as Kristoffer Reitan at +5500 and Min Woo Lee at +6000. Notable early tee times include Adam Scott and Justin Rose at 11:12 a.m. ET.
The Tour Championship's $40 million purse could draw broader casual viewership to the season finale, potentially reinforcing golf's status as a high-stakes spectator sport. The wide betting spread from favorites to long shots may shape how fans perceive competitive depth across the tour. Atlanta's local economy could see modest benefits from tournament attendance, while streaming options may expand the event's reach beyond traditional broadcast audiences.