Viktor Hovland fought off a spirited fightback from Xander Schauffele to claim back-to-back victories and the FedEx Cup with a five-shot victory at the Tour Championship.
Starting the day six shots ahead, Hovland started fast, making four birdies in his first six holes either side of a rain delay but was unable to shake off the challenge of Schauffele.
The American, who has never finished below seventh in his six appearances so far at East Lake, also made four birdies in his first six holes and continued to battle away, at one point reducing Hovland's lead down to just three after three birdies in five holes around the turn.
As the rest of the field was left behind, the final pairing offered up something of a prelude for next month's Ryder Cup over the back nine, going blow for blow over the final holes.
The turning point would arrive on the 14th, where Hovland responded from a poor chip to drain a crucial par putt and retain his three-shot advantage. From there, the 25-year-old found three birdies in his final three holes to finish on -27, securing back-to-back wins alongside the $18m winner cheque.
After Schauffele on -22, Wyndham Clark was the next best back at -16. Solid final rounds from Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay saw the pair round out the top five at -14 and -13 respectively. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler finished at T6 on -11.
Relive all the action from the final round of the Tour Championship below:
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD
- -27: HOVLAND
- -22: SCHAUFFELE
- -16: CLARK
- -14: MCILROY
- -13: CANTLAY
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK LINKS
- Tour Championship Final Round Tee Times
- Tour Championship Prize Money 2023
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Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's live coverage of the final round of the Tour Championship. After a stellar round on Saturday, the tournament is really Viktor Hovland's to lose. Fresh of his victory last week, the Norwegian has a six-shot advantage at East Lake heading into the final round.
It will take something special from the chasing pack to stop him. Will that happen? Tune in to find out...
FINAL ROUND TEE TIMES
We've got a few early starters out on the course, but here's a look at when the big contenders get underway for their final round.
Times listed in EDT (BST):
- 12.56pm (5.56pm) - Adam Schenk, Rory McIlroy
- 1.07pm (6.07pm) - Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay
- 1.18pm (6.18pm) - Wyndham Clark, Jon Rahm
- 1.29pm (6.29pm) - Keegan Bradley, Collin Morikawa
- 1.40pm (6.40pm) - Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele
DIFFICULT EARLY SCORING
Scoring was tricky yesterday and the early signs from those already on the course is that we could be in for similarly tricky scorings.
14 players are out on the course but just two are under par currently for their rounds...
IS XANDER THE MAN TO CHASE DOWN HOVLAND?
If you could have picked someone charged with catching Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele may just be that person.
The American has five top-ten finishes and one victory at this course in his six appearances at the tournament. As well as that, he's yet to shoot over par at East Lake.
Could he cause a shock here today? A reminder that Scottie Scheffler led by this exact amount heading into the final round last year...and ended up falling short to an electric round from Rory McIlroy.
BIG PAYDAY FOR THE WINNER
It's the biggest purse on the PGA Tour, so here's a quick reminder of the eye-watering sums of money that the top-ten players are set to take home today:
- 1 - $18,000,000
- 2 - $6,500,000
- 3 - $5,000,000
- 4 - $4,000,000
- 5 - $3,000,000
- 6 - $2,500,000
- 7 - $2,000,000
- 8 - $1,500,000
- 9 - $1,250,000
- 10 - $1,000,000
RYDER CUP PICKS TO PLAY FOR
Another strand to today's action is next month's Ryder Cup. Two names in the top five, in particular, will be looking to force the hand of US Captain Zach Johnson ahead of Marco Simone.
Collin Morikawa looks likely to get a captain's pick already but he'll be after one more big round just to make that sure.
The other is Keegan Bradley who it feels like is on the outside looking in at the minute. He's already won twice this season but may well need a big final-round showing at East Lake to make the case to Johnson for one of those six picks.
RORY MCILROY UNDERWAY
He's been struggling with a back injury all week has Rory and currently sits 11 shots back of the lead. He pulled off something magnificent this time last year but 11 shots feels even beyond his best.
He gets underway with Adam Schenk, finding the right rough with his first tee shot.
EARLY BOGEY FOR RORY
The Northern Irishman is blocked off by trees after his opening drive and can't reach the green in two. From the fairway he can't get up and down to save his par and he drops back to -8.
It's a lovely birdie, though, for his playing partner Schenk who moves into solo eighth at -10. What a season he is putting together.
GLOVER AND HOMA INTO THE TOP TEN
A nice start for the American duo early into their final rounds. Two birdies for Glover, one for Max and the pair are both at T9 on -9.
OPENING BIRDIE FOR SCHEFFLER
Where was any of that yesterday, Scottie? The World No.1 was birdie-shy almost the entirety of Saturday but gets underway at the first on Sunday with a lovely iron approach.
He's got ten feet for birdie and this time makes no mistake. Up to -12 but plenty of work still to do.
SCHENK HOLES OUT FROM THE FAIRWAY
Wow! What a start from Adam Schenk. It's rare that Rory McIlroy is overshadowed in a pairing but it's happening right now.
A birdie on the first is met by eagle on the third as he holes out from 137 yards on the fairway. Up to -12 and into a share of fifth for him.
He's still yet to win on the PGA Tour and that's probably unlikely to change today, but his breakthrough season continues to go from strength to strength.
6 years ago today, Adam received his PGA Tour card. Today, he is playing in the final round of the Tour Championship. I have a slew of words to share but I’ll spare you all: I’m wearing waterproof mascara today. pic.twitter.com/QuMdBmcJN7August 27, 2023
LEADER UNDERWAY
A bit of drama before he starts as Viktor Hovland and his caddie appear to take a wrong turn and have to lightly jog to make the first tee on time.
All's well that ends well, though, as he finds the fairway with his drive. Schauffele, too, finds the short stuff as he looks to chase down the Norwegian.
EARLY BIRDIES FLOWING
Well, I thought it might be similar to yesterday conditions-wise but perhaps not. Scheffler rolls in another birdie - his second of the round - to get to -13 and he's joined there by Adam Schenk whose marvellous front nine gets even better with a 31-foot birdie to move four under thru four.
Morikawa gets off and running with birdie at the first to move to -14 but Keegan Bradley doesn't appear to have got the memo as he makes an opening-hole bogey to drop back to -12.
HOVLAND MAKES AN EARLY MOVE
Just relentless golf from Viktor Hovland who pours in a 15-footer on the first for a birdie to move to -21. He's going to be difficult to catch if he keeps making birdies look as easy as that.
But credit to Schauffele. A beauty of an iron into the green for the American who also makes birdie to keep some sort of pressure on the leader. Up to -15 for him.
PLAY SUSPENDED
Well, not the news we were hoping for. Just as we were getting started, play has been suspended due to "inclement weather." Looks like storms are projected in the area but hopefully East Lake can avoid the worst of it.
The final round of the TOUR Championship was suspended at 1:57 p.m. ET due to inclement weather.August 27, 2023
PLAY SUSPENDED
Some thunder being picked up by the TV cameras. It looks like this delay could be a bit lengthier than anyone initially anticipated.
Anyway, lets take the opportunity to look back on what golf we have seen so far today and the story right now is Adam Schenk. Five holes, three birdies, one eagle. Not bad.
Here's a look at that eagle - a hole-out from the fairway:
RAIN BEGINNING TO CLEAR
No news as of yet regards a restart but signs the rain and clouds appear to be slowing moving away from East Lake.
There's not a lot of wind out on the course so it may take it's time but hopefully we aren't too far away from getting the golfers back on the course.
OVER IN EUROPE...
A few signs of fans but still no signs of players so lets take another look back at some other action from today which happened in Europe at the Czech Masters on the DP World Tour.
If today is a big day for the likes of Bradley and Morikawa to force their way into a US captain's pick for the Ryder Cup, then it was no different over in Prague.
A host of big names such as Ludvig Aberg, Nicolai Hojgaard, Adrian Meronk, Yannik Paul and Bob MacIntyre were in contention as they looked to make their case to Luke Donald for a captain's pick onto Team Europe.
Click here to find out how they got on.
PLAY TO RESUME AT 15:50 ET (20:50 BST)
Finally some good news and a time for the resumption of play. Given the length of the delay, the players are being allowed some time on the range first but it looks like we are looking at a 3:50pm ET restart.
For the folks in the UK, that's 20:50pm so just over half an hour away.
Update from Atlanta: the range is opening at 3:15 and play expected to resume at 3:50 pm ET.August 27, 2023
PLAY TO RESUME - HOVLAND LEADS BY SIX
We're about 15 minutes away from play resuming so a small reminder of how things stand:
Hovland remains six shots ahead on -21 after a first-hole birdie but faces a putt to save his par on the second. His closest chaser, Schauffele, also made birdie on the first and has a look at birdie on 2 to move up to -15.
Further back on -14 is Morikawa, while Schenk and Scheffler have each started excellently with the pair sat on -13 and -4 and -2 for their final rounds respectively so far.
PLAY BACK UNDERWAY
The horn goes and we're back just under two hours later!
A big putt first up for Hovland to save his par on the second...right in the heart of it. No signs of rust from the Norwegian after the time waiting around. Schauffele pushes his birdie putt right off the hole and walks of for a par.
There was a chance of a two-shot swing there but, in the end, it all remains the same. Hovland leads by six.
CLOSE SHAVE FOR SCHEFFLER
Scottie was getting hot before the weather interval and his iron's are dialled right out the gates with a nice approach into the fifth. From ten feet, though, he can't convert and he remains eight back at -13.
SCHAUFFELE CUTS LEAD TO FIVE
He just loves this course, does Xander. Another sterling iron into the third green gives him a look at birdie and the American makes no mistake.
He's up to -16 and now just five back of Hovland after he misses his look at birdie. No cause for concern...yet.
SCHENK INTO THE TOP THREE
Not even the near two-hour rain delay has dampened Adam Schenk's spirits today as his magical front nine just keeps getting better. Another birdie pours into the hole at 6 and he's now -5 for his round, 14-under-par for the tournament and into a tie for third!
BIRDIES FOR HOVLAND AND SCHAUFFELE
The rain from earlier may have made these greens slightly more receptive, and the final pair are putting that two the test. Schauffele's approach into the fourth is great. Hovland's is even better, almost threatening to slam dunk into the hole.
It's two relatively short birdie efforts...and they both convert. We started the day with a few in contention but this is fast becoming a two horse race - Schauffele hunting down Hovland.
Elsewhere, there is a bogey for Morikawa who drops back to -13 and leaves Schenk in solo third. That's a tasty payday if he can stay there.
KEEGAN BRADLEY DROPS BACK
Not the round the American would have wanted to put together today. His second bogey of the day on the front nine and he's now two-over-par for his round and back at -11.
MORE PUTTING WOES FOR SCHEFFLER
A couple of missed opportunities early in the round for the American and he's now in trouble on the seventh with his ball running through to the back of the green. It's a tricky two-putt but that becomes all the more difficult when the World No.1's first effort comes up way short before drifting down the slope and away from the hole.
In the end, it's a three-putt bogey and he's now ten back of Hovland at -12.
HOVLAND RESTORES SIX SHOT LEAD
It's difficult to put into words the level of ball striking Hovland is displaying right now. The greens are receptive, sure, but, he's got another great look at birdie after a sumptuous iron into the fifth.
No problem for the Norwegian, who rolls it in for back-to-back birdies to get to -23.
And the pressure tells on Schauffele who misses his birdie putt just prior. He's been great so far today as well but he's back to how he started the day - six back of the leader.
PLENTY FALLING BY THE WAYSIDE
This truly has become a two-horse race now. A bogey for Rahm after finding the greenside bunker. A bogey for Morikawa after a short miss. And a bogey, too, for Schenk after a clumsy three putts.
Schauffele the only one standing, trying to chase down Hovland.
DOUBLE BOGEY FOR SCHEFFLER
Well Scottie wasn't likely to win today but he's now just losing money quickly on these greens.
The first putt on the eighth is tricky - slow at first before picking up speed - and Scheffler races it by. The par putt is missed...and so is the even shorter bogey putt. Double-bogey six and the World No. 10 is back to -10 where he started the tournament.
MORE BIRDIES FOR HOVLAND AND SCHAUFFELE
The two players in the final group find the exact same greenside bunker left of the green with their approaches in.
The rain we've had earlier in the day makes this a far less intimidating proposition for these two on the par-five sixth and they make no mistake, up and down for a pair of birdies and on they go, storming further ahead of the field.
BOGEYS FOR SCHENK AND RAHM
Schauffele and Hovland look like they are playing a different course at the minute as more players drop shots around them. Rahm gets himself in trouble off the tee and can only hack out of the fairway bunker. In the end, he does well to just drop one shot.
Schenk, too, drops one as he makes the turn after another three putt on the tenth.
SCHAUFFELE BACK WITHIN FIVE
Everyone else has vacated from the chase but Xander Schauffele is going nowhere. An aggressive tee shot allows him a wedge into the green and he makes no mistake with the birdie putt. He's -5 thru eight holes and up to -19.
Hovland taps in for his part to remain at -24, but his lead now drops back to five.
MORIKAWA MAKES THE TURN WITH BIRDIE
He's no longer fighting for the overall title, but there's plenty of money on offer for any of the players that can make a move up the leaderboard. After a quiet few holes, Morikawa bounces back with birdie on the par-three ninth to move alongside Clark on -13.
And he's joined back on 13-under-par by Adam Schenk who pours in another birdie from over 20 feet. He's back into a tie for third.
HOVLAND SAVES PAR AS FINAL PAIR MAKE THE TURN
Plenty of work to do for Hovland as his tee shot into the ninth comes up right at the bottom of a huge slope. It's 50ft long but with about 40ft worth of left-to-right break.
The Norwegian gives it a good go but his effort comes up just short. It's a slightly testy downhiller for par...but he makes no mistake. Schauffele gives his putt a great roll but it just evades the hole. A great effort but the lead remains at five for Hovland.
CLARK MAKING A MOVE
He wasn't particularly in contention at the start of the day but a three-under-par round has this year's US Open champion up into solo third at -14.
That could be worth a few dollars if he can stay there come the end of play.
DOUBLE BOGEY FOR SCHENK
Oooh, that's not ideal. Adam Schenk goes from bunker to bunker on the 14th before a costly three-putt leaves him with a double-bogey six! From a tie for fourth down into seventh at -11 for the American.
SCHAUFFELE CUTS LEAD TO FOUR
Xander is running out of holes but by no means giving up the chase. He hits a solid iron into the 11th but is under pressure as Hovland stuffs one in close.
No nerves from the American, though, as he gets the perfect roll on his right-to-left putt, sending it right into the heart of the cup for his eighth birdie of the day. He's up to -20 now.
Hovland with a chance to maintain his five-shot lead...but he can't. Perhaps the first signs of nerves from the Norwegian? Seven holes to go but his lead is now four.
RORY MAKING A MOVE
Even a bad back can't deter the Northern Irishman. He loves it here at East Lake and is finishing in style here on Sunday. A divine tee shot into the 15th brings him his third birdie in four holes and up to T4 at -13.
Schenk, his playing partner, bounces back nicely after that double bogey with a birdie, too, while Clark further improves his position in third with another birdie to get to -15.
BACK-TO-BACK BIRDIES FOR SCHAUFFELE, LEAD NOW JUST THREE
Hovland is in a small spot of bother off the 12th tee as his ball settles into the fairway bunker. Not to worry, he simply sticks it in close and gives himself another look at birdie.
Schauffele ramps up the pressure with another stellar iron into the green just inside Hovland's effort. And the pressure tells.
Hovland's effort goes by while Schauffele's putt drops for another birdie. In an instant, the hole is now three.
Some late drama perhaps?
BOGEYS FOR CLARK AND MCILROY
These two spent the final day at LACC battling it out for the US Open a few months back and they deservedly have their names right up at the top of the leaderboard after a pair of fine seasons.
They've both made nice moves today but now Clark and McIlroy falter somewhat with bogeys, moving them back to -14 and -12 respectively.
HOVLAND PAR KEEPS HIM THREE AHEAD
Problems off the tee for Schauffele who goes way left over the trees. He recovers nicely to make a par but it's advantage Hovland after he sticks one in close on 13.
It's a good roll...but just catches the lip and rolls by quite some distance! Not the tap-in he would have wanted but it's calmy negotiated by the Norwegian back up the slope to make par and remain three ahead.
We're supposed to still have a month until the Ryder Cup but this feels like a proper Sunday matchplay singles classic. Hovland 3UP with five to play.
BIRDIE FOR RORY, BOGEY FOR COLLIN
The two swap places with McIlroy moving into solo fourth after a bounce-back birdie on the penultimate hole. Morikawa, meanwhile, serves up a three-putt at just the wrong time to drop back to -12 and a tie for fifth alongside Cantlay.
Schenk was at -12 but he's now further back at -10 after his second double bogey in four holes at 17.
HUGE PAR SAVE FROM HOVLAND ON 14
The first real sign of emotion from Hovland all day as he lets out an almighty fist pump having saved par! His second shot came up short and the chip onto the green was poor, but the putt...nerveless.
He maintains his three-shot lead with Schauffele making par and that feels like a big moment in this closing stretch.
What a putt!Viktor Hovland comes up clutch to save par @TOURChamp 💪He leads by 3 with 4 to play. pic.twitter.com/LGGFxLRAUbAugust 27, 2023
DOUBLE BOGEY FOR MORIKAWA
The American isn't closing in style and a mistake out of the greenside bunker from the par-three 15th leads to a double bogey and three dropped shots in his last two holes.
Three-over-par today. Not his finest golf.
HOVLAND LEADS BY THREE WITH THREE TO PLAY
The par-three 15th next for the final pair and they both safely carry it beyond the flag to give themselves outside looks for birdie.
Hovland is further away, and it's a big right-to-lefter which he nurses down to the hole nicely. A solid par for him. Schauffele needs to be aggressive and try steal one here...but it's on the wrong line right from the start.
No harm with a par but he's only got three holes left now and still trails by three.
MCILROY IN THE CLUBHOUSE
Rory ends with a birdie on the par-five last to get up to -14 for the tournament and safely inside the top-five after a four-under-par 66. That's a great performance given the problems with his back that plagued his first two rounds.
A great end to another remarkably consistent season for him. His playing partner, Schenk misses out on a birdie and currently sits at T8 which also represents a fantastic season for the up-and-coming American.
Rory McIlroy: 10 consecutive top-10 finishes, the longest streak of his PGA Tour careerAugust 27, 2023
HOVLAND MAKES BIRDIE TO GO FOUR AHEAD WITH TWO REMAINING
What a couple of holes from Viktor Hovland. A huge par save on the previous hole is followed by a superb iron shot into the 16th green to give him a great look at birdie.
Schauffele has a go for birdie before that but his effort comes up short and Hovland takes full advantage, rolling his 10-foot putt down the slope and into the cup for his first birdie of the back nine to move to -25.
He now leads by four with two left and that, should be that.
BACK-TO-BACK BIRDIES AS HOVLAND EXTENDS LEAD TO FIVE
Simply relentless. It looked at one stage that this might go right down to the wire.
Not any more.
Hovland rolls in another birdie on the 17th and now, he heads the 18th tee with almost the same size lead as he started the day with. Schauffele sees his effort roll past and he settles for a par.
He's played his part and made this final round a real test for the Norwegian, but the task was just too much and he's ran out of steam on these final holes.
UP THE LAST THEY GO...
Safely on the fairway for Hovland on the par-five 18th and he can now enjoy this final work. His work is done and he will surely be your 2023 FedEx Cup champion.
VIKTOR HOVLAND WINS THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP!
Schauffele second comes up short of the green but it's a lovely up and down to find yet another birdie. A final-round 62 is some achievement and he's pushed Hovland all the way today.
The Norwegian's second shot also comes up short, rolling back into the sand. Can he get up and down for a final birdie?
You bet he can. Remarkable golf from Hovland who himself shots a seven-under-par 63 to win the Tour Championship by five shots and claim the FedEx Cup for the first time!
Viktor Hovland is the 2023 #FedExCup champion!This win @TOURChamp is his third victory of the season 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GRuHFLzDqTAugust 27, 2023
VIKTOR HOVLAND WINS THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP!
Simply remarkable golf from Hovland today. We saw last year from Scottie Scheffler how tricky it can be to close out these tournaments but the Norwegian was simply faultless and refused to take a backwards step.
A lot of credit, too, must go to Xander Schauffele who continues his magnificent record here with a final-round 62. He fell five shots short in the end but it felt and was a lot closer than that for large parts of the final round.
THANKS FOR TUNING IN!
Well, what a way to end the season. I didn't expect as entertaining a final round as that but thanks to Schauffele and Hovland we were treated to a real thriller.
Thanks for tuning in, until next time!
