Top 30 players review for TOUR Championship

The field is set for next week's TOUR Championship. Thirty players have advanced to East Lake and will battle for not only the tournament itself but the biggest prize in golf -- the FedExCup.

Here's a quick look at each of the 30 survivors, led by Bryson DeChambeau, who grabbed the top spot with wins in the first two Playoffs events.

DeChambeau has the most advantageous path to winning the FedExCup, and like each of the top five in points, will be guaranteed the season-long title should he win the TOUR Championship. (Click here for scenarios for each of the top 30 to win the FedExCup.)

1. Bryson DeChambeau

2017-18 HIGHLIGHTS: Won three events in an eight-start span, including the first two tournaments in the FedExCup Playoffs (THE NORTHERN TRUST, Dell Technologies Championship) to take over the top spot in the points standings … Became just the second player to open the Playoffs with two wins (Vijay Singh, 2008) … In early June, DeChambeau won his second career PGA TOUR title by beating Byeong Hun An with a birdie on the second playoff at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. Earlier in the season, he went through a four-start stretch with a runner-up (at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard), a T-3 (at the RBC Heritage) and a solo fourth (at the Wells Fargo Championship).

INTANGIBLES: Minus a hiccup at the Porsche European Open in July, DeChambeau is an above-average closer who forces others to beat him. DeChambeau also outworks the competition and plays with a chip on his shoulder, out to prove he belongs in the same sentence as American stars like Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. No one wants it more.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Won THE NORTHERN TRUST by four strokes, fueled by a third-round career-low 63 … Won the Dell Technologies Championship, overcoming a one-shot deficit entering the final round to win by two strokes … Cruised around mid-field throughout the BMW Championship, finishing T19.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: This is his first appearance.

2. Justin Rose

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Won second career World Golf Championships title at the WGC-HSBC Champions, coming from eight back on the final day with a closing 67, and captured Fort Worth Invitational by three over Brooks Koepka for second win of the season. … Nearly won for a third time at the BMW Championship before losing in a playoff to Keegan Bradley. Even so, the result elevated him to world No. 1 for the first time in his career. … Finished inside the top 25 of all four majors and THE PLAYERS Championship … Made the cut on the number at The Open Championship before a stellar weekend. … Has a career-high 10 top-10s this season.

INTANGIBLES: After on-again, off-again back problems, Rose, 38, built up a team of physical therapists who have helped him stay healthy. He is also a savvy scheduler; when he felt off prior to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, he pulled out. He then shot four rounds in the 60s at the PGA Championship (T19) ... He responds well to the odd week off, so he might be tough to beat at East Lake.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Missed cut at THE NORTHERN TRUST… Fought back after a rough start in the final round to finish T2 at the Dell Technologies Championship. … Playoff runner-up at BMW.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Has five consecutive top-10s at the TOUR Championship, including runners-up in 2012 and 2015 and a T4 in 2014. Sixteen of his past 20 rounds at East Lake have been par or better.

3. Tony Finau

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: His 11 top-10 finishes this season -- including all three FedExCup Playoffs events – ties Dustin Johnson for most on the PGA TOUR this season .. Opened the season with a runner-up finish at Safeway Open and secured second runner-up at the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club. … Made hole-in-one at Masters Par-3 Contest only to dislocate ankle in celebration. Still managed a T10 finish in debut. … Held share of 54-hole lead at U.S. Open after third round 66, ultimately finished fifth. … Made it three top-10s in three majors with a T9 at The Open Championship.

INTANGIBLES: Has taken game to next level this season; you sensed that both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson saw glimpses of themselves while playing alongside Finau this summer. He can’t always rattle in enough putts when it really matters, but he may feel freed up at East Lake with his audition to be a Ryder Cup captain’s pick over (he was added to the U.S. team Monday). Now he can keep the main thing, i.e. the FedExCup, the main thing. Single-mindedness can be very potent.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Was runner up at THE NORTHERN TRUST where he led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green (+12.562) and Around-the-Green (+7.800) … Finished T4 at the Dell Technologies Championship with four rounds in the 60s… Tied for eighth at the BMW Championship after a final-round 65.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Finished T7 in his debut last year. He shot three rounds of 68 or better, including a final-round 66. Finau, who finished at 7-under 273, was 5 under on the par-5 18th for the week.

4. Dustin Johnson

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Won the Sentry Tournament of Champions to open 2018 calendar year in dominant fashion. The eight-shot win ensured his streak of at least one win every season extended to 11. … Destroyed the field to win the FedEx St. Jude Classic by six shots, with an incredible walk-off eagle on the 72nd hole from 169 yards. …Notched 19th career win and third of season at RBC Canadian Open. Became first player since Tiger Woods (2005-09) with at least three wins in three consecutive seasons. …Top-10 finishes in U.S. Open (3rd) and Masters (T10). … His T7 at Dell Technologies Championship was 17th career Playoffs oop-10 finish, most of any player. … Has a TOUR-high 11 top-10s in 19 starts.

INTANGIBLES: Always hot and cold with the putter, DJ has suffered more tee-to-green mistakes this summer. He could only laugh when he triple-bogeyed the short, par-4 first hole without any penalty strokes in the second round of THE NORTHERN TRUST. It was his second triple in as many days, and he would make a double in round three and finish T11, eight shots behind DeChambeau. (Yep, 3+3+2.). His off-weeks can yield decent finishes, but he’ll have to clean up the mistakes at East Lake.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Opened the Playoffs with a T11 at THE NORTHERN TRUST, where he was just two back through two rounds (67-67) … Labor Day 64 at Dell Technologies Championship led to a T7 finish… Failed to trouble the leaders with a T24 finish at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Has finished in the top-10 in half of his eight starts at East Lake, including fifth-place finishes in 2013 and 2015. Shared the 54-hole lead with Kevin Chappell in 2016 but shot a final-round 73 to finish sixth and lose the FedExCup.

5. Justin Thomas

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Reigning FedExCup champion took just two starts to claim his first trophy, winning THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in a playoff against Marc Leishman. Took down Luke List in a playoff at The Honda Classic for second win of the season (and seventh time in 31 starts). … Finished second at World Golf Championships – Mexico Championship after sitting 11 strokes back through 36 holes. Fired course-record 62 in Round 3 and final-round 64 capped by a 119-yard hole-out from the 18th fairway to get into a playoff with Phil Mickelson. … Four-stroke win at World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational was his first WGC title. Win made him the fifth to collect a FedExCup, a major championship and a WGC event, and the youngest (Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods). …Was tied for the lead at one point Sunday in title defense at the PGA Championship before two bogeys on his last five holes resulted in the T6 finish. … In May became the 21st player to be No. 1 in the world since the OWGR began in 1986. Held the top spot for total of four weeks.

INTANGIBLES: Has remained relatively under the radar as he attempts to do something no one has ever done before: Successfully defend his FedExCup title. Already he’s doing better than most winners of the FedExCup, who often haven’t even made it back to the TOUR Championship at East Lake in their encore season. He isn’t far off with his game, and may feel he has unfinished business at East Lake, where he admitted to being annoyed not to have won the tournament last year.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: A T8 finish at THE NORTHERN TRUST that included four rounds in the 60s… Opening 73 at Dell Technologies made life tough but final round 65 led to T24… Was just outside serious contention at BMW before finishing T12.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Clinched the FedExCup with his runner-up to Xander Schauffele last year. Finished one shot back after a final-round 66, including birdies on two of his last three holes. He was T6 in his East Lake debut in 2016.

6. Keegan Bradley

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Ended a win drought of more than six years and 160 TOUR starts with playoff victory over Justin Rose at BMW Championship at rain-soaked Aronimink. … Encouraging start to the season with runner-up at CIMB Classic and 5th at Farmers Insurance Open. … Solid play continued with final-round 66 and T7 at THE PLAYERS Championship. … Fourth-place finish at RBC Canadian Open bolstered his position heading into the Playoffs.

INTANGIBLES: Bradley saw his putting go into a major funk with the anchoring ban but led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting at the BMW. After breaking his win drought, he may feel like he’s got nothing to lose at East Lake. That’s a great way to play.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Made final twosome at THE NORTHERN TRUST, starting final round four back. Struggled to a 78 (T34). … Got off to solid start in front of hometown fans at Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston, but finished 73-72 for T49. … Shot 20-under and survived playoff to win BMW.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Made the last of his three appearances at East Lake in 2013. Best finish was a T11 in his first start in 2011.

7. Brooks Koepka

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: First repeat U.S. Open winner since Curtis Strange in 1989, and youngest (28) since Ralph Guldahl in 1938. Claimed second major of season and third overall at PGA Championship. Tied PGA record for lowest score in a single round with a 7-under 63 in round two. … Opened 2017-18 season with runner-up at World Golf Championships–HSBC Champions. … In fourth round of THE PLAYERS Championship, made a 2 at par-5 16th (6-iron/208 yards) for fourth albatross in tournament history. Final-round 63 low final round in PLAYERS history. … Finished runner-up at the Fort Worth Invitational.

INTANGIBLES: Might benefit from the off-week after a summer of fireworks and two major victories. Maybe some rest will help, as might the stakes, for few players rise to the occasion like Koepka.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Finished T8 at THE NORTHERN TRUST… Four rounds in the 60s at the Dell Technologies Championship but could only muster a T12… Tied for 19th at the BMW Championship after a 65-66 finish in last two rounds.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Shot in the 60s in all four rounds last year en route to a sixth-place finish. Was his second TOUR Championship start. Finished T18 in 2015.

8. Bubba Watson

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Two-stroke win at Genesis Open was 10th PGA TOUR victory, first since 2016 Genesis Open, and third victory at Riviera to tie Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer. … Beat Kevin Kisner 7 and 6 at World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play for 11th TOUR title and second of season. Became the fifth player to win multiple major championships and multiple WGC titles, joining Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. …Third Travelers Championship title (2010, 2015, 2018) left him one shy of Billy Casper (1963, 1965, 1968, 1973) for the most Travelers wins all-time.

INTANGIBLES: Turnaround story Watson, 39, continues to defy predictions. People said he was done before he won at Riviera and Austin. Then, just when he seemed fated to win his third Masters title, he opened with a 73 and never really contended (T5). His third win was predictable; he loves TPC River Highlands. But his second-round 78 to miss the cut at the PGA at bomber-friendly Bellerive was not.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T34 at THE NORTHERN TRUST … Closing 66 at TPC Boston earned a T7 at the Dell Technologies Championship … T16 at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Has played in seven TOUR Championships, and East Lake results have improved as his career is progressed. After finishing in the bottom half of the field in his first three appearances, he has three top-10s in his past four starts.

9. Billy Horschel

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Partnered with Scott Piercy to win Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Fifth win of his career and second in New Orleans (2013 – individual stroke play). … Claimed a T2 finish at the Barbasol Championship, having played Keene Trace Golf Club’s 16 par-5 holes for the week in a collective 13-under par. … Tie for third at THE NORTHERN TRUST was his best result in the FedExCup Playoffs since winning the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup in 2014.

INTANGIBLES: Another dangerous player with a nose for the finish line, Horschel is having his finest season since his 2014 FedExCup-winning campaign. The five-time TOUR winner knows how to extend a run of good play all the way to the trophy ceremony, and he does well on relatively challenging courses like East Lake, where one need not shoot 20-under to contend.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Impressive T3 at THE NORTHERN TRUST… WD’d with illness at the Dell Technologies Championship… Contended throughout the BMW Championship before T3 finish.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Won the 2014 TOUR Championship by three shots en route to winning the FedExCup. Finished T7 in his only other East Lake appearance, in 2013. All eight of his rounds are par or better, including six scores in the 60s. Has a 67.9 scoring average at East Lake.

10. Cameron Smith

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Opened season with T5 at the CIMB Classic after opening 64 to hold first round lead and a 3rd place finish at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES when missed birdie putt on the 72nd hole to join a playoff. … Finished T6 at the Genesis Open during which he played 41 consecutive holes at Riviera Country Club without a bogey … Final-round 6-under 66 at Augusta National led to a T5 at the Masters. … Strong results in first two Playoffs events with top-3 finishes.

INTANGIBLES: The talented young Australian has yet to win an individual event on TOUR but has that Zurich team win last season. Being a longshot to win the entire FedExCup could free him up at East Lake, but he lost crucial momentum at the BMW.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Four rounds in the 60s at THE NORTHERN TRUST to finish T3… Another four rounds in the 60s for third at the Dell Technologies Championship… Struggled at the BMW Championship, finished tied for 65th in the 69-man field.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: This is his first appearance.

11. Webb Simpson

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Four-shot win at THE PLAYERS Championship was fifth career TOUR title in 250th start. Tied for the lead with five others at the end of first round before setting tournament records for largest 36-hole lead (five strokes) and 54-hole lead (seven strokes). … Final-round 62, T2 at Wyndham Championship was sixth top-10 in his 10th Wyndham start. … Was the only player with all four rounds in the 60s at the RBC Heritage on way to T5 finish. … Fourth in Masters history to eagle consecutive holes with a 2-3 run on the seventh and eighth holes.

INTANGIBLES: This has been a career-revival season for the 33-year-old. A runaway victory at THE PLAYERS; top-20 finishes in all four majors; T2 at Wyndham; making the U.S. Ryder Cup team -- this version of Simpson may be better than the guy who won the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic Club.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T28 at THE NORTHERN TRUST… Held 36-hole lead at Dell Technologies Championship but faded to T49 finish… T6 at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Two top-10s in five starts, a T5 in 2012 and fourth-place finish in 2013. Finished T13 last year, his first trip to East Lake in three years. Finished outside the top 20 in both 2011 and 2014.

12. Jason Day

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Shook off back pain to win Farmers Insurance Open for the second time, surviving a six-hole playoff against Alex Noren (and Ryan Palmer for one hole) that went to Monday morning. … Picked up second win of the season at the Wells Fargo Championship, converting the 54-hole lead for the seventh time in his career in 14 attempts but the sixth time of the last seven. … Finished runner-up at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, marking his fifth top-10 finish in 10 starts at the event where he has never missed the cut. … Made just two bogeys in Rounds 2 through 4 to finish T5 at THE PLAYERS Championship, good for his third top-10 at TPC Sawgrass.

INTANGIBLES: Day could finish this season first in Strokes Gained: Putting, but his best results of 2018 came in the first five months of the season, when he very easily could have knocked down three victories instead of just two. (He tied for second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.)

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T20 at THE NORTHERN TRUST … MC (76-73) at Dell Technologies Championship … Rebounded into some form at the BMW Championship to finish T24.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Finished better than 10th in just two of seven starts at East Lake, and none since 2014. Finished 17th last year after a final-round 74.

13. Francesco Molinari

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Claimed his first major at The Open Championship at Carnoustie. Became the first Italian to win a major championship and marked his third win in his last six worldwide starts. Played the final 37 holes without a bogey, the only player in the field with two bogey-free rounds. … Recorded a final-round 62 to win the Quicken Loans National by eight strokes for his first career PGA TOUR victory. Became the first Italian to win on TOUR since Toney Penna in 1947. Bettered previous tournament records for 72-hole score (259), 54-hole score (197) and margin of victory (eight). … Bogey-free final round at Bellerive Country Club to finish T6 at the PGA Championship. … Finished T2 at the John Deere Classic in first start after winning the Quicken Loans National and his last start prior to Open Championship win. (Also won the BMW PGA Championship and was runner up in Italian Open in back-to-back starts on European Tour just prior to the National.)

INTANGIBLES: TOUR Championship rookie Molinari could be dangerous at East Lake. For one thing, it’s a par 70, like TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, where he shot a final-round 62 to win the Quicken Loans National by eight shots in July. East Lake also doesn’t require players to be overly long, instead asking players to show off their ball-striking from tee to green.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Missed the cut at THE NORTHERN TRUST … Did not play the Dell Technologies Championship … Encouraging T8 result at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: This is his first appearance.

14. Phil Mickelson

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Broke nearly five-year (96 starts) win drought with playoff win over Justin Thomas at World Golf Championships - Mexico Championship for 43rd TOUR win and third WGC title. … Birdied three of final five holes for a T2 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Registered 10th top-10 in 22 starts at the Waste Management Phoenix Open with a T5. Posted four under-par scores at the season-opening Safeway Open to finish T3. … His low 18-hole score this season, 8-under 63, led to a T12 at Dell Technologies Championship. … T5 at Wells Fargo Championship was TOUR-leading eighth top-five there.

INTANGIBLES: Nothing to see here, other than a guy who will go down to the wire with Jason Day in the race to lead the TOUR in Strokes Gained: Putting. A guy who continued his streak of making every U.S. Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup since 1994 while breaking a nearly five-year winless streak. Yes, he took his foot off the gas at the BMW after his T15, T12 at THE NORTHERN TRUST and Dell Technologies, respectively, but Mickelson can heat up in a hurry even at 48, especially on a golf course where he’s won before. Weird stat: Mickelson has led the FedExCup for only three weeks in his career, one each in 2007, ’08 and ’09.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T15 THE NORTHERN TRUST … Final-round 63 and T12 finish at the Dell Technologies Championship … T58 at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Won the TOUR Championship at East Lake in 2000, before the FedExCup era, and again in 2009, when he shared the trophy ceremony with FedExCup champion Tiger Woods. Has finished 10th or worse in his last five starts at East Lake, though.

15. Patrick Reed

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Won maiden major championship with victory at Masters, sixth TOUR title in his 166th start. Was 13-under on the par-5s for the week, two off the tournament record. … Masters win was part of a streak of six consecutive top-10 results, which also included a runner up result at the Valspar Championship. … Finished fourth, three strokes behind champion Brooks Koepka at the U.S. Open. Seeking to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same season, began the final round with five birdies in his first seven holes before fading.

INTANGIBLES: Didn’t get off to a very good start in the Playoffs, but seemed to find something at the BMW and has great Georgia mojo after leading Augusta State to two national titles and winning the Masters. Reed plays on emotion, and there’s plenty to get excited about here.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Opened the Playoffs with a T25 at THE NORTHERN TRUST … Settled for T35 at the Dell Technologies Championship … Solid T19 at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Hasn’t finished better than 13th in four appearances at East Lake. Just five of his 16 rounds are under par. Three of them came last year, when he opened 69-65-69 to start the final round in fourth place. Fell nine spots with Sunday 72, though.

16. Patrick Cantlay

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Claimed his first PGA TOUR win with victory at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in a playoff over Whee Kim and Alex Cejka. Was just his 43rd start on the PGA TOUR. … Held the 18- and 36-hole co-lead at the Genesis Open before finishing T4. … Opened with birdies on four of his first eight holes to take the lead in the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide but played his last 10 holes in 3-over to finish fourth, one shot short of a playoff.

INTANGIBLES: Like Tiger Woods, Cantlay has played a limited schedule out of concern for his back. Unlike Woods, he looked tired at the BMW, finishing with rounds of 70-71 to finish way back. One of many players for whom, it appears, the week off couldn’t come at a better time.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Finished T8 at THE NORTHERN TRUST, recording his third top-10 in his fifth FedExCup Playoffs start… Settled for T24 effort after slow start at the Dell Technologies Championship… Sat midfield most of the BMW Championship to finish T55.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Made East Lake debut last year, finishing T20 at even-par 280. Closed with 66-71-69 after opening with 74.

17. Rory McIlroy

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Birdied five of last six Sunday to shoot 64 and win Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard for 14th TOUR win. Became one of three players in the modern era to win 14 or more times by age 30 (Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson). Needed just 100 putts, a career low. … Hit the lead late Sunday at The Open Championship but ultimately had to settle for a T2 finish, his fourth consecutive top-5 at The Open. … Played in the final group Sunday at The Masters but couldn’t reel in Patrick Reed, finishing T5 in quest to complete the career grand slam. … Earned sixth top-10 in eight starts at World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational (T6).

INTANGIBLES: Came from nowhere to win the 2016 TOUR Championship and FedExCup. Could he do it again? It’ll depend on his ability to get the ball in the hole. Going into the final round of the BMW just one off the lead, he was superior from tee to green but made nothing on the greens. That’s been a trend; since breaking his win drought at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, McIlroy has been bedeviled by poor final rounds.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Chose to rest instead of play at THE NORTHERN TRUST … T12 at the Dell Technologies Championship … Held share of opening-round lead at BMW Championship before finishing a disappointing 5th, two out of the playoff.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Won the TOUR Championship in 2016, defeating Ryan Moore in a dramatic playoff, en route to the FedExCup. McIlroy’s final round was punctuated by a hole-out for eagle on the par-4 16th hole. Also was runner-up in the 2014 TOUR Championship. Shared the 54-hole lead with Horschel but shot 71 to Horschel’s 68.

18. Xander Schauffele

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: His T2 in first start of season at CIMB Classic seemed like a continuation of his Rookie of the Year campaign last year. Picked up more T2s at THE PLAYERS Championship and The Open at Carnoustie, where he had an excellent chance to win until a final-round 74. … An under-the-radar T6 at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. … Ensured spot at East Lake with T3 at BMW Championship, his sixth top-10 this season.

INTANGIBLES: Rolled into the BMW at 41st in the FedExCup, but opening rounds of 63-64 got him in the lead before he finished T3 at Aronimink. It was classic Schauffele, the San Diego State product who may be the most underrated member of the high school Class of 2011. Just when you count him out, he proves he’s very, very in. And with his history at East Lake, where he held off Thomas to cement Rookie of the Year honors last season, Schauffele is suddenly back on the radar in a big way. Possible Achilles heel is his relatively unimpressive scrambling and bunker play.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Missed cut at THE NORTHERN TRUST ... T49 at Dell Technologies Championship ... T3 at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Won the TOUR Championship last year to set the record for highest FedExCup finish by a rookie (3rd). Shot 12 under to finish one shot ahead of FedExCup champion Justin Thomas. Made 17 birdies and one eagle.

19. Tommy Fleetwood

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Runner-up to Brooks Koepka at Shinnecock Hills but final-round charge saw him become just the sixth player to shoot 63 in a U.S. Open. … Finished T6 at RBC Canadian Open, where he made three eagles in the first round, becoming the first on TOUR since Eric Axley at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open to accomplish the feat. … Second-round 6-under 65 was the only bogey-free round in the first 36 holes of the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie, helping him to a T12 finish. … Shot 68 in each of the last two rounds to finish T7 at THE PLAYERS Championship. Made 11 birdies and no bogeys on the par-5s at TPC Sawgrass. … Earned a fourth-place result in his debut at The Honda Classic. Was the only player in the field to post par-or-better scores in each round at PGA National.

INTANGIBLES: Making his TOUR Championship debut, red-hot Fleetwood, 27, is a bit of an unknown at East Lake, especially on Bermuda greens and a par-70 track. Four of his five victories in Europe have come on par-72s. Something tells us he’ll do just fine.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T20 at THE NORTHERN TRUST… Solid T24 effort at the Dell Technologies Championship… Two 62s highlighted T8 finish at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: This is his first appearance.

20. Tiger Woods

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Returned to the world top 50 for the first time since January 2015. … Finished T2 at the Valspar Championship, one shot shy of Paul Casey. Posted four under-par scores for first time since 2013 (THE NORTHERN TRUST - T2). … T5 in first Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard since his win in 2013. Got to within one with three holes to play before a late fade. Marked his 10th top-10 (eight wins) in 18 starts at the event. … Threatened final round miracle at THE PLAYERS with six birdies in 12 holes Sunday before a bogey on 14 and water ball on 17 dropped him to T11. … Earned T4 at Quicken Loans National … Hit the lead around the turn on Sunday at The Open Championship only to double bogey the 11th and bogey the 12th to fall back into a tie for sixth. Posted rounds of 71-71-66-71, the first time since the 2010 Masters (T4) he recorded four par-or-better rounds in a major. … Made Sunday surge at the PGA Championship but fell two shy of champion Brooks Koepka. The runner-up finish marked his 31st on the PGA TOUR.

INTANGIBLES: “I really didn’t train for all of this,” Woods said after the BMW. In addition to fine-tuning his body, which allowed him to play pain-free for the first time in years, he has been fine-tuning his equipment, specifically getting the right shafts. “My last piece was the driver,” he said after hitting 13 fairways at Aronimink on Monday. With Woods feeling good about his swing and his equipment, and coming off a week of rest, East Lake is as good a place as any for win No. 80.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T40 finish at THE NORTHERN TRUST… Left his Playoff future on the bubble with a T24 at the Dell Technologies Championship… Shared the opening round lead before finishing T6 at the BMW Championship, securing a return to East Lake.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: First TOUR Championship start in five years. Won the inaugural FedExCup in 2007 after claiming the TOUR Championship. Also has four runners-up at East Lake (2000, ’04, ’05, ’09). Finished T22 in his last trip to East Lake.

21. Aaron Wise

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Won AT&T Byron Nelson in rookie season with 6-under 65 final round to win by three. Victory came in his 26th career start at the age of 21 years, 10 months, 29 days, making him the second-youngest winner of the AT&T Byron Nelson behind Tiger Woods. … In the start before his breakout win, Wise finished runner-up at Wells Fargo Championship. … Posted back-to-back 67s in the final two rounds of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational to finish T6 in his first-ever WGC. … In FedExCup Playoffs debut, posted four under-par scores for T5 at THE NORTHERN TRUST.

INTANGIBLES: Fellow rookie winner Austin Cook gave him a run for Rookie of the Year, but Cook didn’t make it to East Lake while Wise did, all but assuring him ROY honors. His late run, which began at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (T6), has continued heading into East Lake. Can a rookie win the TOUR Championship? Well, it happened last year.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T5 at THE NORTHERN TRUST virtually secured a TOUR Championship berth… Not even a final round 64 could help a T69 finish at the Dell Technologies Championship… Found a little form at the BMW Championship to finish T16.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: This is his first appearance.

22. Kevin Na

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Broke long drought at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier, winning by tournament-record five in 158th start since winning in Las Vegas in 2011, a span that included six runner-up finishes. … Finished T2 at the Genesis Open, two back of Bubba Watson, for ninth career runner-up. … With bookend rounds of 62-61, finished fourth at the Fort Worth Invitational. His 9-under 61 to close out the week tied the Colonial Country Club record and made him the fifth player since 1983 to have multiple rounds of 62 or better during a TOUR event. … With four rounds in the 60s finished T6 at the AT&T Byron Nelson.

INTANGIBLES: Among all the comeback seasons in 2018 (Day, McIlroy, Woods), Na’s went relatively under the radar and he remained in between hat endorsements throughout the Playoffs. Still, he knows East Lake well after playing there four times.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T15 at THE NORTHERN TRUST ... Missed cut at the Dell Technologies Championship ... Secured a trip to Atlanta with a T12 at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Has finished in the bottom half of the field in all five of his TOUR Championship starts. Has a 71.7 scoring average in 20 rounds and just five sub-par rounds. Finished 29th in his most recent TOUR Championship appearance (2016).

23. Rickie Fowler

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Birdied two of his last three holes at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba to fire a final-round 67 and finish in second place. … Finished T4 in his second official start of the season at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, marking his second top-four in two starts. Marked his third top-six finish in three starts in Kapalua. … Finished runner-up at the Masters, one stroke behind Patrick Reed. Was his third runner-up in a major and third top-five in the last four.

INTANGIBLES: Opened with three straight 65s at Aronimink, suggesting he didn’t lose much in his two-week layoff. Somehow still looking for his first victory this season, but unlike anyone else at this stage in the game, he is playing with fresh legs. That’s an advantage; his strained oblique may end up being a blessing in disguise.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Missed THE NORTHERN TRUST and Dell Technologies Championship with oblique strain ... Came back to finish T8 at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Finished a career-best eighth in the 2014 TOUR Championship. Is his only top-10 finish in four TOUR Championship starts. Finished outside the top 20 in 2012 (T23) and 2017 (T26).

24. Jon Rahm

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Took down Andrew Landry in a playoff at CareerBuilder Challenge to claim his second PGA TOUR title. Became the second-youngest winner of the event at 23 years, 2 months, 11 days, behind only Jack Nicklaus (23 years, 13 days). Shot an opening-round 62 at La Quinta Country Club, tying his career low on TOUR (R1/2016 The National). … Runner-up finish at the Sentry Tournament of Champions came in first-career start at winners-only event. Was the only first-time player out of 14 in the field to finish in the top 10. … Finished fourth in the Masters. … Birdied two of his last three holes Sunday to finish T4 at the PGA Championship.

INTANGIBLES: Still learning to control his burning intensity to win, Rahm has made the TOUR Championship despite having a relatively quiet second half of the season. He should be focused and on point at East Lake with the FedExCup upon him and his first-ever Ryder Cup looming the week after.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: Missed cut at THE NORTHERN TRUST ... T43 at the Dell Technologies Championship ... T24 at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Finished T7 in his East Lake debut last year, shooting four rounds of par or better. He was one back after opening with consecutive 67s. Was only 1 under on the weekend despite making nine birdies.

25. Kyle Stanley

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Tied for second at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, falling in a three-man playoff won by Bryson DeChambeau. Made four consecutive birdies on holes 14 through 17 to tie the lead entering the 72nd hole before a final hole bogey dropped him to the playoff. … Opened with a 63 on the way to a solo-second at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, his third top-five at a WGC event during the season. Was also T5 at the WGC-HSBC Champions and T5 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

INTANGIBLES: Runner-up finish at the WGC-Bridgestone and/or 25 starts this season seemed to take something out of him as he’s found little magic in his last four starts. Could use the week off. Still plenty to be excited about as he continues career revival that began with 2017 Quicken Loans National.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T28 at THE NORTHERN TRUST ... Was just three back through 54 holes before finishing T12 at the Dell Technologies Championship ... T45 at BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Made TOUR Championship debut last year. Led by two shots after a first-round 64 but shot 6 over in the final three rounds to fall to 20th place. Made seven birdies in the first round. Had just five birdies (and one eagle) the rest of the way.

26. Paul Casey

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Shot final-round 65 to win the Valspar Championship by one over Patrick Reed and Tiger Woods. Was his second PGA TOUR win but first since 2009. Needed only 21 putts in the final round, fewer than in any previous round in his career. … Held a four-shot lead through 54 holes at the Travelers Championship but a final-round 72 dropped him into a tie for second place. … Finished inside the top 20 of his first four starts of the season: T7 at the CIMB Classic, T19 at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, T11 at the World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions and T8 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. … Final-round 65 at the Masters to finish T15; played holes 11-15 on Sunday in 6-under.

INTANGIBLES: Likes East Lake and will be focused with FedExCup in the balance and Ryder Cup return the following week. Only concern is his WD with back pain.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T60 at THE NORTHERN TRUST ... T21 Dell Technologies Championship ... Withdrew with back pain after 54 holes at the rain-plagued BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Has finished in the top five in all four of his TOUR Championship appearances. He was fourth in 2010 and 2016 and fifth in 2015 and 2017. A final-round 64 two years ago gave him a career-best fifth-place finish in the FedExCup. Held a two-shot lead after three rounds last year bur fired a final-round 73.

27. Hideki Matsuyama

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Opened his season with a T5 at the CIMB Classic. His third-round 63 matched the low round of the tournament. … Finished T4 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, closing with a bogey-free final-round 66. His third top-four finish in just three starts at the event. … Was in danger of missing the Playoffs entirely, but found some sorely needed late-season form with T11 at Wyndham Championship. Has continued apace since then.

INTANGIBLES: Why the late-season surge? Matsuyama dealt with an injured left wrist early this season that forced him to withdraw from the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he had a chance to three-peat. He’s still not yet back to the player we saw decimate the field at the WGC-Bridgestone last year.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: TT15 at THE NORTHERN TRUST ... T4 at the Dell Technologies Championship ... Solo 15th at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: A fifth-place finish in 2016 is Matsuyama’s only top-10 in four TOUR Championship starts. Has finished outside the top 20 twice. He’s a cumulative 6 over par in 16 rounds at East Lake, averaging 70.4 strokes.

28. Gary Woodland

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Won his third career TOUR title and first since the 2013 Barracuda Championship via a playoff at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Began final round in Phoenix trailing by three strokes but closed with a 7-under 64. … Held the 18- and 36-hole lead at the PGA Championship. Ultimately finished T6, his first top-10 in a major in 28 starts. … Stood at just 6-under through 60 holes of the Sony Open in Hawaii but played his final 12 holes in 8-under to finish T7.

INTANGIBLES: Another comeback story in a season full of them, Woodland gained a new level of self-belief this year with his first top-10 in a major and vastly improved play on the greens. Still, his game is a little skewed toward drive-for-show: He’s 3rd in Strokes Gained: Off-the-tee, 183rd in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Greens.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T48 at THE NORTHERN TRUST ... T24 at the Dell Technologies Championship ... T12 at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Despite finishing under par in four of his five appearances, he has never finished better than ninth at the TOUR Championship. After opening 71-75, shot 130 on the weekend (63-67).

29. Marc Leishman

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Opened his season with a playoff loss to Justin Thomas at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. … Held a share of the 54-hole lead at the AT&T Byron Nelson before finishing runner up. Opened the tournament with a blistering career-low 61. … Finished ninth at the Masters highlighted by a second-round 67. Was two strokes off the lead through 36 holes and played with Patrick Reed in Saturday’s final pairing. … Finished T7 in his title defense at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.

INTANGIBLES: It was always going to be hard to follow up on his two-win season last year, but Leishman has done well enough to make it to Atlanta without his best stuff.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T34 at THE NORTHERN TRUST ... T21 at the Dell Technologies Championship ... T41 at the BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: Made it to the TOUR Championship as a rookie in 2009 (T28) but had to wait eight years to make his return. Arrived at East Lake last year ranked fourth in the FedExCup, but shot over par in three rounds and finished T24.

30. Patton Kizzire

2017-18 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Survived a 36-hole Sunday to win his first PGA TOUR event at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba, holding off Rickie Fowler by a shot. Opened with a career-low, 9-under 62 and maintained at least a share of the lead after each of the first three rounds. … Made it two wins in four TOUR starts this season with a playoff victory over James Hahn at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Took six extra holes before win was secured. … Carded eight birdies (including five in his last seven holes) in a final-round 7-under 64 to finish T4 at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open. Ended just one stroke shy of the three-man playoff won by Patrick Cantlay. … In his first seven starts of the season collected five top-15 results, including two wins.

INTANGIBLES: Kizzire can finally exhale after making it to Atlanta, mostly on the strength of his early-season play. Still looking for the form that carried him to such a torrid start to the season.

ROAD TO EAST LAKE: T60 at THE NORTHERN TRUST … T71 at the Dell Technologies Championship … Barely hung on to TOUR Championship spot after final-round 73 and T61 at BMW Championship.

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: This is his first appearance.