Scheffler red-hot favourite to break FedEx duck

Scottie Scheffler has been installed as the 11/10 favourite with BoyleSports to capitalise on a two-shot head start in this week’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Course.

The world number one will be teeing off at the season finale with a clear lead for the third year in a row thanks to the FedEx Cup handicap system but has thus far failed to make the most of his early advantage.

Those hoping for added insurance can play the New Jersey native in the BoyleSports Early Payout market at 4/5, which sees the bookie payout on your golfer if he’s the sole leader after round three, whether or not he goes on to win the event.

Having finished a shot behind Rory McIlroy in 2022 and a colossal 16 shots behind Viktor Hovland in 2023, some punters are looking away from the red-hot favourite breaking his hoodoo as 29 rivals will take to the fairways of the Atlanta course in the hunt for the $18million prize.

Xander Schaueffele, who topped the leaderboard at the PGA Championship and Open this year, will start on -8, two shots adrift of Scheffler and heads the chasing pack according to the oddsmakers at 9/4, while play-off winners Hideki Matsuyama (11/1) and Keegan Bradley (35/1) are also in the running.

Rory McIlroy, who already holds the record for most FedEx Cup titles, will bid for a fourth win in the event but has a six-shot deficit to overturn with the points table topper. Punters remain keen on the Hollywood man, however, with BoyleSports cutting his odds into 16/1 (from 20/1) to rewrite the history books, while Shane Lowry will start from one further back and is available at huge odds of 125/1.

Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “Scottie Scheffler holds all the aces, but there are 29 rivals looking to put the brakes on his maiden FedEx Cup success. Rory McIlroy has it all to do if he is to make history once again at East Lake but he’s the one punters are hoping can eat into the lead of the world number one.”