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2020 Tour Championship: Top 10 power rankings at East Lake

By Mike Randleman

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 22: A general view of the 18th hole during the first round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 22, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 22: A general view of the 18th hole during the first round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 22, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 24: Xander Schauffele of the United States celebrates with the Calamity Jane trophy on the 18th green after winning during the final round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 24, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 24: Xander Schauffele of the United States celebrates with the Calamity Jane trophy on the 18th green after winning during the final round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 24, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Xander Schauffele grew up on the other side of the country in California. Watch him play at East Lake and you’d think he was a Fulton county lifer.

The X Man won his Tour Championship debut in 2017 to nearly take the whole FedEx Cup as a rookie. He hasn’t missed this event since, finishing T-7th in 2018 and second last year both in net and gross.

Schauffele’s never shot over par here and has an impressive string of scores: 69-66-65-68, 68-70-68-69, 64-69-67-70.

He’s due for a win in 2020. It’s hard to believe Schauffele hasn’t picked up a trophy since the 2019 Tournament of Champions. He’s got four runner-ups since, all coming at a WGC, major, FedEx Cup Playoff event, or ToC.

The former San Diego State Aztec has been ultra-consistent since the June restart. He was T-3rd at Colonial and is currently on a streak of seven straight top-25s. That includes T-6th at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude.

Schauffele’s made 10 cuts in a row dating back to January.

The 26-year-old has an all-around game. He’s 57th or better on the PGA Tour in every strokes gained category. Schauffele is a good fit for East Lake thanks to his accuracy that doesn’t sacrifice much to the bombers in terms of distance.

He’s is seventh in SG off the tee (.655).

Something about limited field events with talented fields seems to bring out the best in him. I expect that to continue in Atlanta.

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