Well, the FedEx Cup Playoff finale is finally here.  The last event of the season, for all of the marbles. 15 million marbles actually.  Before we take a look at my picks for East Lake this week, let’s take a look at how I’ve fared in the playoffs thus far.

FedEx Cup Playoffs Recap

So I made some picks a few weeks ago for who will be left standing at the end of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.  Here’s who I went with, and how they did.

Front Runners – Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm

Koepka and Rahm had decent showings in both of the playoff events thus far.  Rahm made a run at the Northern Trust before falling apart in the final 5 holes, and Koepka had two steady, albeit not stellar, finishes.  Koepka will go into Atlanta in third place, starting at 7 under, three shots behind JT in the new format.  Rahm is solidly in 6th and will start with a group of five at 4 under.  Overall, not too bad with my picks in the front runner group.  Both guys have the birdie power to charge ahead and catch Thomas.

Contenders – Tommy Fleetwood and Hideki Matsuyama

So my Tommy Fleetwood pick has been just ok.  A T-43 at the Northern Trust and T-11 at the BMW have him sitting at 22nd place (from 19th at the start of the playoffs) and will start at 1 under.  A long way to go to catch Thomas.

Matsuyama, on the other hand, has been a better pick in this group.  He finished 3rd at the BMW, and 30th at the Northern Trust, but jumped from 30th to 15th in the overall standings.  He will start in the 3-under group, but if his putter stays hot (20 putts in the final round at Medinah?! Keep the change…) then look out.  Putting has always determined how Hideki finishes, and it’s no different this week at East Lake.

Need Some Help – Jordan Spieth and Matt Wolff

Wolff fell outside of the top 70 after the Northern Trust and didn’t make the BMW.  Fail.  Spieth made the BMW after a nice run at the Northern Trust, but fell short of the Finals with a mediocre performance at the Medinah.  Fail again.

BMW Picks – Cantlay, Schauffele, Putnam and Merrit

Both Canatlay (2nd) and Schauffele (T19) had solid finishes at the BMW to put them in solid position for East Lake.  Cantlay is now in second and will start one back of Thomas.  Schauffele finished in 8th and will be with the 4-under group with Rahm.  Not bad there.

Merrit and Putnam, on the other hand, didn’t fare well.  T-43 for the both of them knocked them both out of the finale.  So-so picks this week.  Again, I’m not an expert here.

Tommy’s FedEx Cup Finale at East Lake Outlook

With four of my original picks still in it, I’m not changing picks here.  I think Koepka, Rahm, and even Matsuyama will be dangerous if the putter stays hot.  I’m not as optimistic for Fleetwood based on where he’s starting.  As far as the additional BMW picks, Cantlay is in prime position to win it all, and Shauffele is always dangerous too.  I mean he did win the Tour Championship here in 2018.

Of the above, I have the most faith in Koepka and Cantlay.  While the others are playing well, Cantlay has such a solid all around game and has been in great form.  And Koepka is, well, Koekpa.  There’s big money on the line so he’s going to make a charge out there.  If you’re making me pick one, though, it’s Koepka.  And although he’s let me down before, I also think Rory might just take the thing with the year he’s had, even if he hasn’t fared well in Majors.

East Lake always proves to have a fantastic finish, and the new format is going to make it that much more fun to watch.  The FedEx Cup Playoff Finale is always a bittersweet end to the season, but nonetheless, it should be exciting.

Take these picks with a grain of salt, but as always, anybody but Reed.

Full Starting Positions and Odds – FedEx Cup Playoff Finale

Justin Thomas -10 (+200)
Patrick Cantlay -8 (+450)
Brooks Koepka -7 (+600)
Patrick Reed -6 (+1100)
Rory McIlroy -5 (+1200)
Jon Rahm -4 (+1500)
Matt Kuchar -4 (+4000)
Xander Schauffele -4 (+2200)
Webb Simpson -4 (+2500)
Abraham Ancer -4 (+4000)
Gary Woodland -3 (+8000)
Tony Finau -3 (+5000)
Adam Scott -3 (+3000)
Dustin Johnson -3 (+3000)
Hideki Matsuyama -3 (+4000)
Paul Casey -2 (+7500)
Justin Rose -2 (+6000)
Brandt Snedeker -2 (+7500)
Rickie Fowler -2 (+6000)
Kevin Kisner -2 (+9000)
Marc Leishman – 1 (+15000)
Tommy Fleetwood -1 (+10000)
Corey Conners -1 (+15000)
Sungjae Im -1 (+15000)
Chez Reavie -1 (+30000)
Bryson DeChambeau E (+20000)
Louis Oosthuizen E (+17500)
Charles Howell III E (+30000)
Lucas Glover E (+25000)
Jason Kokrak E (+25000)