"Last Battle of Money" East Lake "Decisive Moment in the Final 4 Holes"

'PO Final Game 3' Tour Championship Winning Strategy is 'Jeongta (正打)', Ram Leads as Top Winner Candidate with High Green Hit Rate, Simpson as 'Dark Horse'

The island green at the 15th hole of East Lake Golf Club, where the 'PO Final 3rd Match' is held.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "The decisive moment is the last 4 holes."

This is about the battleground of the final third round of the PGA Tour Playoffs (PO), the Tour Championship, opening on the night of the 4th (Korean time) at East Lake Golf Club (Par 70, 7,280 yards) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. No. 1 seed Dustin Johnson (USA) is the most advantageous, receiving a 10-under-par 'stroke bonus.' No. 2 Jon Rahm (Spain) starts at 8-under-par, and No. 3 Justin Thomas (USA) at 7-under-par. The winner will not only become the PO champion but also hit the massive '15 million dollars (17.8 billion KRW) jackpot' on this final journey.

Opened in 1908, it already has a history of 112 years. It is fascinating that the breath of 'Guseong (Golf Saint)' Bobby Jones (USA) can be felt here. He learned golf at East Lake and later used it as his home course to hone his practical shot skills. After Jones achieved the only 'Grand Slam' in global golf history by winning all four majors in 1930?the two Opens (US Open and The Open) and two Amateurs (US Amateur and British Amateur)?the four model trophies were displayed here.

The course is familiar to players. While the first and second rounds of the PO change courses every year, the Tour Championship has been held at the same course for 14 years since the PO began in 2007. The winning strategy is 'accurate hitting.' With a par 70, there are four par-3 holes and only two par-5 holes, the 6th and 18th. Above all, 'pinpoint iron shots' are necessary. Water hazards and bunkers surround the greens in layers, so failing to get 'on the green' immediately leads to a bogey or worse, a fatal blow.

The final 18th hole view of East Lake Golf Club, the battleground of the 'PO Final Game 3'.

In fact, from Henrik Stenson (Sweden) in 2013, Billy Horschel in 2014, Jordan Spieth (USA) in 2015, Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) in 2016, Xander Schauffele and Tiger Woods (USA) in 2017 and 2018 respectively, to McIlroy again last year, precise shots have been the driving force to the top. Woods especially boasted a scrambling rate of 70.83% (1st) and an average of 1.65 putts per hole (1st) with 'stingy putting' in 2018 despite missing greens and scoring par or worse.

This is why experts point to Rahm as the top favorite to win this year and Webb Simpson (USA), the 4th seed, as a dark horse. Rahm’s greens in regulation rate this season is 70.37% (18th), more powerful than Johnson. Simpson is the sharpest among the 'top 5' with 71.64% (6th). Thomas recorded 69.35% (40th), and Collin Morikawa 69.15% (44th). The front nine holes, especially the 8th and 9th, require caution. The 8th hole (par 4, 446 yards) has water all along the left side of the fairway and slopes to the left.

The 9th hole (par 3, 215 yards) is known as the 'Jim Furyk hole.' In 2010 (then the 18th hole), Furyk made a dramatic 'winning par' by hitting a bunker shot close to the hole. The front and back nines were switched in 2016. The champion is usually decided over the last four holes, 15 through 18. The 15th hole (par 3, 203 yards) features an island green, the 16th hole (par 4, 463 yards) is a dogleg, and the 17th hole (par 4, 436 yards) tests with a high-trajectory tee shot. The 18th hole (par 5, 590 yards) also awaits with a thorny path crossing a lake and avoiding bunkers.