Quick 9: Best Tour Championship shots
As the top 30 players on the planet get ready to lock horns for the Tour Championship this week, we decided to take a look back through the archives at the greatest shots from the tournament’s history.
With the season-ending competition acting as the crucial event in the race for the FedEx Cup and its $10 million prize money, the Tour Championship has often produced jaw-dropping shots as the world’s top players chase a lucrative pay day.
So sit back and enjoy some of the best Tour Championship shots from down the years…
Tiger Woods, 2007
Former world No.1 Tiger Woods was rampant at the 2007 Tour Championship as he looked to claim his first FedEx Cup title.
The 14-time Major winner finished on 23-under, eight strokes ahead of Mark Calcavecchia and Zach Johnson.
This long putt eagle putt on the 9th during the second round summed up his clinical form.
David Toms, 2009
Fast forward two years and that man Woods would again get his hands on the FedEx Cup – for the second and possibly (almost definitely) final time.
But at the season-ending Tour Championship from East Lake in Georgia, it was David Toms grabbing some of the limelight with a chip-in at the 18th to help him finish 19th in the overall FedEx standings.
Phil Mickelson, 2009
Phil Mickelson has never won the FedEx Cup but he came agonisingly close in 2009 after a three-shot victory at the Tour Championship.
But unfortunately for Lefty, great rival Tiger Woods had won two of the four play-off tournaments and finished second behind Mickelson at the Tour Championship to secure enough points to lift the FedEx Cup.
But there’s always this chip, Phil…
Luke Donald, 2010
England’s Luke Donald was in with a shout of winning the FedEx Cup heading into the Tour Championship finale.
Things were looking good when he chipped in at the 17th from 100ft away but he had to settle for a second-placed finish at the tournament and third overall in the FedEx standings despite that amazing shot.
Jim Furyk, 2010
The man who narrowly pipped Donald to the Tour Championship – and the FedEx title – was veteran Jim Furyk.
But the 2003 US Open winner needed a par at the 18th to maintain his one-shot lead over the Englishman.
He got into trouble after finding a greenside bunker, however his recovery shot was nothing shot of sublime.
Bill Haas, 2011
For the first time ever, the FedEx title and its $10 million bonus came down to a winner-takes-all sudden death play-off between Bill Haas and Hunter Mahan at the 2011 Tour Championship.
After staying alive with an astounding shot from the water at the second play-off hole, Haas defeated his opponent on the third extra hole.
Brandt Snedeker, 2012
American Brandt Snedeker was in fifth position heading into the Tour Championship finale and he knew only a victory would be good enough to seal the FedEx crown.
With Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in the field and in the hunt for the title, it came as a shock to many when Snedeker emerged from the chasing pack.
This chip-in at the 17th effectively wrapped up the title for Snedeker.
Jordan Spieth, 2015
Jordan Spieth treated spectators in Georgia to a putting masterclass on the final day of the Tour Championship on his way to a first FedEx Cup victory.
The youngster poured in putts from all over East Lake as he sealed a 1-under 69 for a four-shot win over Danny Lee, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson.
On the 11th hole, Spieth drained this 45-foot for a birdie, leaving Stenson with a look of astonishment on his face…
Rory McIlroy, 2016
Rory McIlroy found himself three shots back with three to play in the final round of the 2016 Tour Championship.
But a chip-in for eagle on the 16th saw the Northern Irishman surge up the leaderboard at precisely the right time.
The four-time Major winner would defeat Ryan Moore and Kevin Chappell in a play-off to win the tournament and bank the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus.