Spieth holes bunker shot to win Travelers playoff

Charles Howell III is headed to the TOUR Championship … provided that the historical trend of recent FedExCup Playoffs holds in the revamped schedule for the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season. Thanks to his win Sunday at The RSM Classic, Howell moved to the top of the FedExCup standings after the completion of the fall portion of the wraparound schedule. The previous five players who have finished the fall atop the standings each eventually advanced to the 30-man Playoffs finale at East Lake in their given season. That’s the good news for Howell. The bad news is that none of those five won the FedExCup. Jimmy Walker, the fall points leader in the 2013-14 season, had the best overall finish at seventh in points. Last year’s fall leader, Patton Kizzire, just squeezed into East Lake and finished 30th. This season’s FedExCup Playoffs offers an unknown factor than previous seasons, since the Playoffs have been reduced from four to three tournaments. But if Howell can maintain his position inside the top 30 after the second event, the BMW Championship, he will advance to the TOUR Championship for the first time since 2011. PREVIOUS FALL POINTS LEADERS ON THE FLIP SIDE None of the last five FedExCup champions earned less than 34 points in the fall events (Jordan Spieth in 2015). In fact, the other four champions earned at least 100 points in the fall; last season’s champ, Justin Rose, finished the fall a year ago with 550 points. That historical trend is bad news for notables such as Dustin Johnson (who currently has 28 points), Rory McIlroy (six points) and Jordan Spieth (six points). PLENTY OF POINT-GATHERERS A total of 215 players earned at least one point this fall – that’s the most in the six seasons of the wraparound schedule. Getting at least one point in the fall gives a player better than a 50-50 chance of making the Playoffs. In the previous five seasons, a total of 1,023 players earned points in the fall – and nearly 57 percent of those players went on to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs Taking it one more step, more than 12 percent of those players made it to the TOUR Championship. But here’s the most telling statistic that emphasizes the importance of the fall – just 21 of a possible 150 players earned a spot in the TOUR Championship after failing to play or earn at least a single point in the fall. Tiger Woods did that last season … and he’ll hope to do it again this season. WHO IS THE FALL KING? In the five years of the wraparound schedule, no player has earned more FedExCup points than Justin Thomas – not surprising since three of his nine career wins have come in the fall (CIMB Classic in 2015 and 2016; CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in 2017). Ryan Moore, Russell Knox and Charles Howell III are the next three players on that list. Thomas has made 18 fall starts in the history of the wraparound schedule to accumulate his 2,087 points. That’s an average of 115.9 points per start – good, but not the best. No player has been more efficient in the fall than current FedExCup champ Justin Rose. He has made five starts in the wraparound schedule since the 2013-14 season and has averaged 195 points per start. Dustin Johnson (five starts) is next at 185.6, followed by Patrick Cantlay (six starts, 164.3 average), then Thomas. Reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year Brooks Koepka is fifth on the list (12 starts, 109.2 average).

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• COURSE: East Lake Golf Club, 7,385 yards, par 70. The original home of the Atlanta Athletic Club, the course opened in 1908 as a Tom Bendelow design and was revamped five years later by Donald Ross. It’s best known as the place where Bobby Jones learned the game, shooting 80 by age 11 and later stamping his name in history by completing the 1930 Grand Slam. East Lake hosted the 1950 U.S. Women’s Amateur and 1963 Ryder Cup before a decaying neighborhood sent members moving to the north suburbs. The AAC itself followed in 1967, leaving East Lake in the hands of 25 members opposed to the move. A revival began in 1993 when a partnership was formed to restore the club as a tribute to Jones. The TOUR Championship came to East Lake for the first time in 1998, becoming the annual host in 2004. • FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 2,000 points. • CHARITY: The East Lake Foundation, established in 1995 to spearhead revitalization of the neighborhood surrounding the historic course. The foundation has spurred such projects as the Charles R. Drew Charter School, East Lake Family YMCA and Charlie Yates Golf Course. Funding also is directed to The First Tee. • FIELD WATCH: FedExCup leader Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, separated by just 27 points entering the BMW Championship, headline the 30-man lineup in pursuit of a $10 million bonus for the season champ. World No.1 Dustin Johnson rounds out a strong headline trio. … At least 11 members of the U.S. Presidents Cup roster are projected to tee it up at East Lake, with Phil Mickelson the only one needing to play his way in at Conway Farms. … The International team will send Hideki Matsuyama, Marc Leishman, Jhonattan Vegas, Adam Hadwin and Louis Oosthuizen to Atlanta, with Jason Day on the bubble. • 72-HOLE RECORD: 257, Tiger Woods (2007). • 18-HOLE RECORD: 60, Zach Johnson (3rd round, 2007). • LAST YEAR: Rory McIlroy took home the $10 million season crown with his second victory in three weeks, going four extra holes to survive a wild finish with Ryan Moore and Kevin Chappell. McIlroy fired a 6-under-par 64 to get into the playoff, getting a lift at No.16 when his wedge from 137 yards found the cup. Still, Moore had a chance to win in regulation – and give Johnson the FedExCup – but an 8-foot birdie try at the par-5 18th grazed the edge. Chappell held a two-shot lead with two holes to play when he bogeyed No.17 – just his third of the week – while McIlroy and Moore birdied ahead. The playoff began with McIlroy facing a 6-foot eagle putt, but he missed while Moore drained a 10-foot birdie. Moore’s silver lining was selection to the final spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, where he later tallied the clinching point at Hazeltine National. • STORYLINES: Spieth, Thomas and Johnson are assured of heading to East Lake among the top five in points, allowing them to capture the FedExCup simply by winning the finale. Matsuyama and Jon Rahm have the inside track to the other top-five spots, though the winner at Conway Farms also figures to be in the mix. … Points are reset after the BMW Championship, allowing everyone a mathematical chance of claiming the crown. For No.30 to win, though, the points leader would have to finish in the bottom two at East Lake. … Barring a top-4 finish from McIlroy at Conway Farms, it’ll mark the eighth time in 10 years that the reigning FedExCup champ hasn’t defended at East Lake. The exceptions: Brandt Snedeker in 2013 and Spieth last year. • SHORT CHIPS: Each of the past seven FedExCup champions have done so while winning the TOUR Championship. The last one who didn’t was Tiger Woods, who claimed the 2009 crown while second to Mickelson on the East Lake leaderboard. … Last year’s playoff was the longest in the TOUR Championship’s 30-year history. In 2011, Bill Haas went three extra holes to outlast Hunter Mahan for the twin trophies. … Mickelson is eyeing what would be his 19th TOUR Championship start, extending his own record. • TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 1-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday, 12:30-2:30 p.m. (GC), 2:30-6 p.m. (NBC). Sunday, noon-1:30 p.m. (GC), 1:30-6 p.m. (NBC). • PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (featured groups), 1-6 p.m. (featured holes). Saturday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (featured holes). • RADIO: Thursday-Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, 1-7 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

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