Honestly, if you weren't watching East Lake this past August, you missed the moment the "Tommy can't win in America" narrative finally went up in flames. For years, the knock on Tommy Fleetwood was that he was the best player to never win a PGA Tour event on U.S. soil. Well, he didn't just win a tournament; he took down the whole season-ending FedEx Cup.
The pga east lake leaderboard looked like a fever dream for most of the weekend. We had Russell Henley opening with a ridiculous 61, Scottie Scheffler looking like he was going to steamroll everyone (again), and then—out of nowhere—the format change changed everything.
Why the PGA East Lake Leaderboard Shifted Everything
In 2025, the PGA Tour finally listened to the fans who hated the "staggered start" format. You remember the old way—where the leader started at 10-under before a single ball was even teed up? It felt like a head start that made the actual golf secondary.
This year, they scrapped it. Everyone started at even par.
Because of that, the leaderboard was actually reflecting who was playing the best golf that week in Atlanta, not just who had the best July.
The Final Standings at East Lake
| Position | Player | Score | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tommy Fleetwood | -18 | $10,000,000 |
| T2 | Russell Henley | -15 | $4,352,500 |
| T2 | Patrick Cantlay | -15 | $4,352,500 |
| T4 | Scottie Scheffler | -14 | $2,616,667 |
| T4 | Corey Conners | -14 | $2,616,667 |
| T4 | Cameron Young | -14 | $2,616,667 |
Tommy’s final round 68 wasn't just a victory lap. He had Patrick Cantlay breathing down his neck after Cantlay went on a tear on Saturday with a 64. But Fleetwood stayed cool. He hit fairways, avoided the nasty 3.5-inch Bermuda rough that architect Andrew Green dialed up during the renovation, and basically put on a clinic.
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The "New" East Lake: It’s Not the Course You Remember
If you saw the broadcast and thought the greens looked different, you weren't crazy. The $30 million restoration meant the course was playing much faster. They switched the greens to TifEagle Bermuda and the fairways to Zorro Zoysia.
Basically, the ball rolls forever now.
It was a nightmare for guys who usually spray it off the tee. Scottie Scheffler, who had an all-time season with five wins and a BMW Championship trophy, actually struggled with the firmer conditions on the weekend. He stalled out with a 69-66-68 finish, which is "bad" by his standards, but still good enough for a T4.
One thing people get wrong: they think East Lake is easy now because the scores were low. It’s actually the opposite. The greens were larger, but the runoff areas were mowed so tight that if you missed your spot by two feet, your ball ended up 30 yards away in a collection area.
Where the Money Actually Went
Let's talk about the cash, because $100 million is a lot of incentive to make a 4-foot putt. The winner's share for the pga east lake leaderboard topper was $10 million this year.
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Now, wait—you might remember it being $25 million last year.
The Tour changed the payout structure for 2025. They started paying out more money before players got to Atlanta. Scottie Scheffler actually banked $10 million just for winning the regular-season points list. So even though Tommy won the trophy at East Lake, Scottie still ended up as the highest earner for the total season.
- Tommy Fleetwood: $10M for the win.
- Patrick Cantlay & Russell Henley: Over $4.3M each for the runner-up tie.
- The "Last Place" Guy: Even Sepp Straka, who finished 30th at +7, walked away with $355,000. Not a bad week's work for finishing last in a 30-man field.
The Heartbreak of Russell Henley
You kind of have to feel for Russell Henley. The guy is a Georgia legend, a former Bulldog, and he opened the week with a 61. Sixty-one! He hit 24 of 28 fairways through the first two rounds, which is basically robot-level precision.
But East Lake has a way of grinding you down. He didn't really do anything "wrong" on Sunday; he just couldn't keep pace with Fleetwood's back-nine birdies. Seeing him finish T2 was a bit of a gut-punch for the local fans, but it solidified him as one of the best ball-strikers on the planet right now.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're looking at this leaderboard and trying to figure out what it means for next year's majors, here is the reality.
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First, the "strokes-based" system is likely gone for good. The TV ratings were better because the drama was real. You can expect the 2026 Tour Championship to use this same "flat start" format.
Second, keep an eye on Cameron Young. He posted a 62 during the tournament, which was the second-best round of the week. He’s still searching for that first win, but the way he handled the new East Lake layout suggests he’s finally figured out how to manage his power on fast, firm courses.
Lastly, if you’re planning to attend next year, the course is much more walkable now. The restoration opened up sightlines, meaning you can actually see multiple holes from the hills around the 15th and 14th.
Next Steps for Golf Fans:
- Watch the Replays: Check the PGA Tour's YouTube channel for the "Rapid Rounds" of Fleetwood’s Sunday 68 to see how he handled the pressure on the 17th.
- Review the FedEx Cup Fall: The top 50 are set for the 2026 Signature Events, but the players who finished 31-150 are currently battling for their jobs in the Fall series.
- Track the World Rankings: This win catapulted Fleetwood into the top 10, which changes the field dynamics for the early-season events in Hawaii next January.