Opinion & Analysis
The 7 most underrated players at the Tour Championship
The top 30 players in the FedExCup Points list take to the Tour Championship — the culmination of the 2015 FedExCup Playoffs — where they’ll compete for the $10 million overall prize.
Fans will also compete for big money in the DraftKings $400,000 contest where the winner earns $100,000! It’s also the last event of the PGA Tour season, so it’s your last time to win big money in a DraftKings fantasy golf contest.
Enter here to play.
Below, I’ll give you information on the course and 7 undervalued players in order to help you win the big $100K prize.
The Course
East Lake Golf Club located in Atlanta measures almost 7,400 yards in length, plays to a tournament par of 70, and has been the permanent home of the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola since 2004. Famously re-designed by Donald Ross in 1913 and later restored by Rees Jones, East Lake is the oldest golf course in Atlanta. Notably, it was the home course of Robert Tyre “Bobby” Jones II.
As the primary home to the Tour Championship (1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 – present), previous winners have averaged 11.64-under par for 72 holes, and 2.84-under (67.16) per tournament round. The lowest 72-hole score in the 14-year history of this event at East Lake is 23-under by Tiger Woods in 2007. It is possible, yet no guarantee, that one player could win the Tour Championship, and another the $10 million FedExCup payday. The top five players (Day, Spieth, Fowler, Stenson, and Watson) in FedExCup points entering this week, however, control their fate with a win.
My 7 Underrated Players
Steve Bowditch ($6,700)
- FedExCup Ranking — 24th
- All-Around Ranking — 593 (45th)
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green — 0.224 (69th)
- Par 5 Birdie or Better Leaders — 45.95 percent (37th)
Bowditch was recently selected as a captain’s pick for the International Team at the 2015 President’s Cup by Nick Price, 2003 WGHF member. Further, this season he has posted nine top-25s, earned almost $3 million in prize money, and won the AT&T Byron Nelson back in May 2015.
Having publicly expressed his desire to represent the International Team in South Korea at the President’s Cup, expect Bowditch to play hard in anticipation of and preparation for that event. While inconsistent at times, Bowditch is a multiple winner on the PGA Tour and provides tremendous value at only $6,700 this week.
Danny Lee ($7,000)
- FedExCup Ranking — 19th
- All-Around Ranking — 458 (19th)
- Strokes Gained: Putting — 0.365 (25th)
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green — 0.243 (66th)
A former U.S. Amateur champion (2008), and this season’s winner at The Greenbrier Classic, Lee is having his best PGA TOUR season to date. In addition to his win, Lee has posted two third-place finishes, 12 top-25s, and made more than $3 million in earnings.
While Lee has been leaking oil (so to speak) in the FedExCup playoffs, his game is complete and he has demonstrated the ability to win at the PGA Tour level. Lee’s exceptional putting should serve him well this week in Atlanta. Do not miss out on this steal at $7,000.
Kevin Na ($7,100)
- FedExCup Ranking — 27th
- All-Around Ranking — 581 (43rd)
- Strokes Gained: Putting — 0.281 (44th)
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green — 0.694 (29th)
No stranger to East Lake Golf Club, Na most recently qualified for the Tour Championship in 2014 and finished T19. Over the course of his career, Na has repeatedly demonstrated the uncanny ability to compete at the highest level of PGA Tour golf with little more than grit and determination.
He is a gifted putter and surprisingly strong tee-to-green overall. Na has posted 12 top-25 finishes, made 22 of 25 cuts, and tallied more than $2.5 million in earnings this season. I suggest you take a chance on Na at $7,100 this week.
Robert Streb ($7,300)
- FedExCup Ranking — 14th
- All-Around Ranking — 434 (15th)
- Strokes Gained: Putting — 0.361 (27th)
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green — 0.807 (24th)
Streb has had a banner year, as evidenced by his statistics, on the PGA Tour (sans a couple guys named Day and Spieth). He won early in the 2014-2015 season at The McGladrey Classic in a playoff, which has led to 15 top-25 finishes, earned in excess of $3.75 million, and garnered an OWGR ranking of 32nd in his second year on Tour.
Streb’s play in these FedExCup playoffs has been solid, but not spectacular. With a well-rounded game, sufficient length (297.7 yards) off the tee, and strong putting on average, put Streb in your lineup this week for $7,300. He is definitely worth the cash.
Paul Casey ($7,500)
- FedExCup Ranking — 22nd
- All-Around Ranking — 478 (20th)
- Ball Striking — 14 (5th)
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green — 1.186 (9th)
In so many ways, Paul Casey remains an absolute mystery. Gifted with (and obviously worked hard for) a golf swing incredible in both its form and execution, Casey has only one PGA Tour win, though he is a 13-time winner on the European Tour.
Statistically, he hits almost every relevant mark this season and with an excellent week of putting on the greens, he will certainly be in the thick of things. Casey has, in fact, been close in 2015 to winning on the PGA Tour with two second-place finishes and two third-place finishes. Expect a run this week from an inexpensive stud.
Patrick Reed ($7,600)
- FedExCup Ranking — 10th
- All-Around Ranking — 547 (37th)
- Strokes Gained: Putting — 0.531 (11th)
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green — 0.523 (39th)
Despite a villainous reputation that may forever follow him, Reed is similarly likely to earn his place in the group of the youngsters currently taking over the PGA Tour. While Reed has only one victory this year back in January at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, he has reeled off overall 14 top-25s, made 24 of 26 cuts, and earned almost $3.5 million to date this season.
Reed is a putting genius, who tends to threaten to win when hitting his irons in close proximity to the hole with consistency. Love him or hate him, avoid getting emotional about putting Reed in your lineup for the bargain price of $7,600 and do it.
Louis Oosthuizen ($7,700)
- FedExCup Ranking — 29th
- All-Around Ranking — 411 (T12)
- Ball Striking — 79 (T31)
- Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green — .821 (22nd)
Oosthuizen has a golf swing for the ages and a knack for competing late on Sunday in professional major championships. Absent a balky putter, Oosthuizen would likely have several major victories to his name, instead of just the 2010 Open Championship at the Old Course at St. Andrews.
In fact, while Oosthuizen has 10 top-25 finishes this season, his best finishes were notched at the U.S. Open and Open Championship, respectively, where he finished tied for second. As to the latter, he lost in a playoff to Zach Johnson. In short, Oosthuizen plays big in big events and at championship caliber golf courses like that of East Lake Golf Club. Jump on the bandwagon this week for the paltry sum of $7,700.
Don’t forget to enter here for a chance to win $100,000!
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience
This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
Club Junkie
Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast
The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.
If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.
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Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
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I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
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Jordan Speeth
Nov 29, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I hope the players don’t read all this stuff telling everybody how and why they suck. Actually, these are the best players in the world and none of them come anywhere close to sucking. They could come out to your average country club on Sunday morning and shoot 56 with a hangover.
Joe
Sep 23, 2015 at 10:32 am
if you’re at the Coca-Cola, you are not underrated.
David
Sep 23, 2015 at 6:04 am
How can Reed be underrated?…..I thought he was a top 5 player in the world. Just saying…
Tyler
Sep 23, 2015 at 12:17 pm
The article is about the best values when it comes to fantasy golf. The term “underrated” is probably not the best one to use in relation to the article.
Jay
Sep 24, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Under valued sounds proper.