Rory McIlroy with work to do as Justin Thomas handed head start for Tour Championship

Justin Thomas will start ahead of the field as he bids to win a second FedEx Cup at East Lake, leaving favorites Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka with plenty of work to do.
The American was in sparkling form at Medinah for the BMW Championship, where he hot a course record 61 en-route to claiming what was a 10th PGA Tour title.
That has brought significant rewards, with Thomas leaping 14 places to the top of the standings – which earns him a head start under the new handicap rules for the Tour Championship and has seen him lowered to a bet price of 11/5 with redbet to emerge victorius.
Thomas will now start the tournament at ten under par, but will still have to hold off significant competition if he’s to translate that into victory.
World number one Brooks Koepka will be just three shots behind, with Rory McIlroy a further two back.
The @JustinThomas34 show.
It was on full display at the @BMWchamps. 🏆#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/35eS5xYL9n
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 19, 2019
The full starting positions for the Tour Championship, which is using a handicap system for the very first time, are as follows:
-10 J Thomas (US)
-8 P Cantlay (US)
-7 B Koepka (US)
-6 P Reed (US)
-5 R McIlroy (NI)
-4 J Rahm (Spa), M Kuchar, X Schauffele, W Simpson (US), A Ancer (Mex)
-3 H Matsuyama (Jap), G Woodland, T Finau, D Johnson (US), A Scott (Aus)
-2 P Casey, J Rose (Eng), B Snedeker, R Fowler, K Kisner (US)
-1 M Leishman (Aus), T Fleetwood (Eng), C Conners (Can), S Im (Kor), C Reavie (US)
PAR B DeChambeau, C Howell III, L Glover, J Kokrak (US), L Oosthuizen (SA)
GOLF365 is now on Instagram, don’t forget to check us our for more golf news, reviews and satire – CLICK RIGHT HERE!
Latest
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton eyes Ryder Cup spot after winning Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Hatton carded a closing 66 to finish 18 under par.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton wins Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as Rory McIlroy misses out
Australia’s Jason Scrivener recorded an eagle and five birdies in a back nine of 29 to claim second place.
-
News
Rory McIlroy leads the way in Abu Dhabi as he eyes overdue victory
McIlroy will have to keep his Ryder Cup team-mates at bay if he is to claim the trophy.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton dominant as Rory McIlroy falters in Abu Dhabi
Hatton led by five shots at the end of a second weather-affected day.
-
News
Phil Mickelson on Tiger’s latest surgery: ‘I feel bad because golf should be a game of a lifetime’
Mickelson admitted he was saddened by the news of Woods’ latest back surgery.
-
News
Rory McIlroy makes brilliant start to fog-affected Abu Dhabi Championship
McIlroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi with four second-place finishes.
-
News
Rory McIlroy shines in Abu Dhabi to take first-round lead following flawless 64
McIlroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi with four second-place finishes, three thirds and a fifth in his last nine starts, but has never won.
-
News
Justin Thomas on end of Ralph Lauren deal: ‘They moved on so that’s what I’m doing as well’
Justin Thomas said he was upset by...
-
News
My last win feels a long time ago – Rory McIlroy aiming to start year on a high
McIlroy has not tasted victory since November 2019.
-
News
Rory McIlroy insists Justin Thomas will ‘try to be better’ after homophobic slur
World number three Thomas was heard using a derogatory word towards himself after missing a par putt in Hawaii.