DEFENDING CHAMPION: Former World No.1 Rory McIlroy came home with a four under final round to take the Tour Championship in 2019 and win his second FedExCup. The Northern Irishman started the week at five under par, eventually claiming a four shot win over 2017 champion Xander Schauffele.

COURSE: Home to this event since 2005, East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta was the primary site of Bobby Jones’ formative years as a golfer. Designed by Tom Bendelow, the club opened in the early 1900s, with Donald Ross updating the course in the following years, while Rees Jones completed a restoration of Ross’ design in the 1990s.

The par-70 will measure 7,319 yards this week.

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

Dustin Johnson starts the week on top of the staggered leaderboard after starting the Playoffs with a win and playoff loss to Jon Rahm last week in Chicago.

The World No.1 is obviously in a rich vein of form having won twice since the PGA Tour’s resumption in June, and he also has plenty of knowledge of the East Lake layout having teed it up in the Tour Championship in each of the last 11 years. However, Johnson is yet to hoist the FedExCup.

Having sunk Johnson’s chances of back-to-back wins last week with a birdie putt from over 60-feet in sudden death, Rahm will start two shots back of Johnson at eight under and is one of the chief contenders here.

RIGHT: Rory McIlroy won both the Tour Championship and FedExCup trophies at East Lake in 2019. PHOTO: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.​

The Spaniard also owns two wins during the 2019/20 wraparound season and his top quality ball striking matches well with the demands of East Lake. Rahm has finished in the top half of the 30-man field in all three of his appearances here and will be hoping to regain his place on the top of the world rankings, as well as completing the order of merit double having claimed the European Tour’s Race to Dubai in 2019.

Having shown patchy form since the PGA Tour’s return and with the birth of his first child due any day, Rory McIlroy isn’t necessarily one of the favourites here but shouldn’t be ignored even though he starts the week seven shots back of Johnson on three under.

McIlroy has won this event twice, and will be looking to find something in his game before the US Open at Winged Foot.

Two Aussies remain in the FedExCup Playoffs, and despite starting well back, Marc Leishman (one under) and Cameron Smith (Even) will have nothing to lose, so expect aggressive play from both as they chase our first FedExCup victory.

72-HOLE RECORD: Tiger Woods set the tournament scoring record in 2007. The 15-time major champion reaching 23-under, 257 for an eight shot win over Marc Calcavecchia and Zach Johnson. 

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Adam Scott (2006).

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 8am)
Round 2: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 8am)
Round 3: Monday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 9am)
Round 4: Tuesday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 2am – 8am)

*AEST, check local guides