An added narrative surrounding the TOUR Championship is the battle to be named Player of the Year. Usually by this stage of the season, it is clear who will get their hands on the award. Yet we are seeing one of the tightest races in years, with the winner still completely up in the air.
As a result, the FedExCup champion could be a deciding factor in who clinches the Jack Nicklaus Award, which is what makes it doubly intriguing.
So ahead of the TOUR Championship - where the top 30 players in the FedExCup standings will be hunting for glory - who are the leading contenders to be Player of the Year?
Scottie Scheffler
Wins: The American Express, FedEx St. Jude Championship
Top 10s: 12
Simply put, Scottie Scheffler is the best player in the world, has been for the last few years, and was the most consistent force on the PGA TOUR yet again this season. The American has won the Jack Nicklaus Award for four consecutive seasons, and is many people's favourite to win a fifth in a row and match Tiger Woods' record.
The four-time major champion has two titles to his name in 2026, leads the TOUR in scoring average (68.65), strokes gained (2.263), top 10s, FedExCup points, and basically every other important metric you want to look at.
However, he hasn't won as many times as he'd like, with seven victories in 2024 and six in 2025. He has finished as runner-up five times and has not won a major this year. He finished second at the Masters, while tying for fourth at the US Open and The Open.
So while he undoubtedly is the best and most consistent player in the world, will his lack of a big victory hold him back? A win this week would change that, though, and certainly see him be named Player of the Year.
Wyndham Clark
Wins: THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, US Open, BMW Championship
Top 10s: 6
Wyndham Clark's surge in the last couple of months has seen him firmly enter the Player of the Year conversation. After a poor 2025 and a slow start to 2026, the American captured the Byron Nelson in May, before winning his second major title at the US Open - three years after winning the same event.
Clark then won the BMW Championship just last week during the FedExCup Playoffs, elevating himself to third in the standings.
He hasn't been as consistent as Scheffler all year, but winning a major title and a Playoff event is significant. Would the world number one swap his season with Clark's? The answer is probably yes, which means he has a real shot at lifting the Jack Nicklaus Award, especially if he wins the TOUR Championship.
Cameron Young
Wins: THE PLAYERS Championship, Cadillac Championship
Top 10s: 8
After seven runner-up finishes, Cameron Young ended his PGA TOUR drought with victory at the Wyndham Championship at the end of last season, and that triumph has given him the confidence to kick on and have a big 2026.
Young's two wins this year have been excellent, especially at the prestigious PLAYERS Championship - dubbed the unofficial 'fifth major' and the PGA TOUR's flagship event. He performed well at the majors too, tying for third at the Masters and second at The Open.
However, he ranks 13th in strokes gained (0.957) and 12th in scoring average (69.769). Overall, his case isn't as strong as the two players already mentioned, but a win in Atlanta may open the door slightly.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Wins: Valspar Championship, RBC Heritage, Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Top 10s: 8
Matt Fitzpatrick has enjoyed an excellent 2026, winning three times and sitting second in the FedExCup standings. With 14 top 25s and only Scheffler ranking higher in strokes gained (1.485), he has been a pillar of consistency.
His performances at the majors have been mixed, though, as he has failed to register a single top-10 finish at the four events this year and even missed the cut at The Open.
For Fitzpatrick to have half a chance to be named Player of the Year, he will need to reign victorious at the TOUR Championship.
Chris Gotterup
Wins: Sony Open in Hawaii, WM Phoenix Open, John Deere Classic
Top 10s: 6
Following a breakthrough 2025, the powerful Chris Gotterup has become a real force on the PGA TOUR, winning the most titles alongside Clark and Fitzpatrick. He was also tied for 10th at the PGA Championship.
Additionally, he ranks inside the top 10 for strokes gained (1.163) and scoring average (69.71), and has 13 top-25 finishes. Gotterup has hit top form in the last few weeks, with four top-25s in his last six events, including a victory at the John Deere Classic.
Much like Fitzpatrick, though, he will need a victory this week just to give himself a glimmer, as Scheffler, Clark and Young all have far stronger cases.