x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
These were the 5 most expensive makes (and misses!) at the Tour Championship
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

Over $140 of value - Just $39.99

InsideGOLF
News

These were the 5 most expensive makes (and misses!) at the Tour Championship

By: Dylan Dethier
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
September 8, 2020
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
xander schauffele misses putt

Xander Schauffele's putt on the 18th green was worth a half-million dollars.

Getty Images

We’re all well aware of Dustin Johnson’s financial windfall after he won the FedEx Cup Monday afternoon at East Lake. But with the tournament well in hand, much of the drama down the stretch had to do with players jockeying for position. While we didn’t quite get a $10 million make-or-miss putt at 18 (Johnson made birdie to close out a comfortable three-shot victory) plenty of money changed hands on East Lake’s final green. Here were the five most valuable makes and misses, by my count:

T-4: Scottie Scheffler’s birdie putt on 18

Length: 6 feet, 6 inches

Make or miss? MAKE

Value: $300,000

Scottie Scheffler was four under for the day as he got to No. 18, but his booming tee shot just missed the fairway to the left, from which point he had to lay up — which he did ably, leaving himself 64 yards from the fairway.

What happened next was worth a lot, both symbolically and financially. Scheffler sent in a neat wedge shot that skipped to a stop just six feet from the hole. Then he stood over a putt that was for the low round of the day (Patrick Reed also shot 5-under 65), the low youngster for the tournament (a shot ahead of Collin Morikawa) and $300,000 (the difference between $2.5 million for solo 5th and $2.2 million for T-5). He buried it, capping off a heck of a debut season. Speaking of T-5 …

T-4: Collin Morikawa’s par putt on 18

Length: 4 feet, 10 inches

Make or miss? MAKE

Value: $300,000

No golfer wants to end his or her round with a three-putt. Ending a tournament on a three-putt would be even worse. But ending your season on a three-putt that cost you $300,000? No thanks.

That’s the scenario Collin Morikawa faced on Monday at East Lake when he raced his 15-footer for birdie some 5 feet past the hole. Morikawa had spent much of the day at 15 under par, within sniffing distance of second place, but he’d slipped to sixth place with a bogey-birdie-bogey-bogey stretch on holes 14-17.

Still, if the fear of a third consecutive bogey entered Morikawa’s mind, it didn’t show. Par. Solo sixth. $1.9 million. What a season for the 22-year-old.

3. Xander Schauffele’s birdie putt on 18

Length: 13 feet, 9 inches

Make or miss? MISS

Value: $500,000

Xander Schauffele arrived on No. 18 tee with a very real possibility of still winning the FedEx Cup. He was two shots behind playing partner Dustin Johnson, but they were playing a reachable par-5; what better opportunity for a two-shot swing?

But any realistic visions of making a $15 million eagle vanished with Schauffele’s tee shot, which ended up in the left rough. From there he was forced to lay up, leaving a 68-yard third shot from the fairway. With Johnson now in the the greenside bunker in two, Schauffele’s only hope of winning would be to hole his approach. And his only hopes of finishing solo second would be to get up and down for birdie.

xander schauffele tour championship
Xander Schauffele knew he’d lost a bit of money when his putt at No. 18 just missed the cup. Getty Images

Schauffele was well aware of the situation.

“Yeah, I looked up at the board,” he said. “I was hoping to hit my wedge a little closer than I did. I knew I wasn’t going to win, and I figured, might as well try and make that last putt and make a little extra cash.

“I didn’t, which sucks, but I tried my best, and that’s all that matters.”

Schauffele’s wedge shot came up 14 feet short of the hole, leaving him a birdie putt that would either leave him in solo second ($5 million payday) or T2 ($4.5 million). The putt skittered by the edge, but let’s not shed too many tears on Schauffele’s behalf. He left East Lake with a whole bundle of cash as well as the lowest 72-hole score; his bank account and world ranking (No. 7) are both looking healthy heading to the new season.

Dress like Xander Schauffele

Adidas Ultimate365 Classic

Adidas Ultimate365 Classic

$80
View Product
Adidas Ultimate365 Badge of Sport

Adidas Ultimate365 Badge of Sport

$44.98
View Product
Adidas Ultimate365 3 Stripes

Adidas Ultimate365 3 Stripes

$47.97
View Product
Adidas Tour360 XT

Adidas Tour360 XT

$199.99
View Product

2. Tyrrell Hatton’s birdie putts on 17 and 18

Length: 6 feet, 5 inches and 5 feet, 5 inches

Make or miss? MAKE and MAKE

Value: $510,000

This might be cheating, because we’re counting two putts instead of one, but Tyrrell Hatton was the only player in the top 10 to birdie No. 17 on Monday, so he gets some extra credit here.

Very simply, if Hatton had finished par-par he’d have settled at 10 under par for the week and in a two-way tie for 10th place with Sungjae Im. The two golfers would have split 10th and 11th place money and each pocketed a respectable $790,000.

Instead, Hatton finished with a bang. He nuked his tee shot down the fairway at No. 17, took his approach shot right at the flagstick and poured in a six-footer for birdie. He found the rough at No. 18, but played his second shot aggressively and wound up just short of the greenside bunker. From there he played a neat chunk-and-run, leaving himself five feet up the hill. He made that putt — and made $1.3 million in the process. Hats off to Tyrrell.

1. Justin Thomas’ birdie putt on 18

Length: 6 feet, 3 inches

Make or miss? MAKE

Value: $1 million

Justin Thomas arrived at No. 18 at East Lake without any real chance at winning the FedEx Cup. He was three shots behind Dustin Johnson and a shot behind Xander Schauffele, too, after making bogey at 17. For a moment, he’d been in solo second; now he was in danger of slipping.

But Thomas, despite busting a banana slice off No. 17 tee, split the fairway at the 18, leaving himself 255 yards home. From there he played a relatively safe shot to the fairway opening just short of the green, then pitched it to six feet, three inches.

justin thomas putter
Even though he had no chance of winning, Justin Thomas made a significant putt on the 18th green at East Lake. Getty Images

At this point, there was big money on the line no matter what. Schauffele was one shot ahead, but Thomas’ other main challenger was his playing partner, Jon Rahm. As Thomas surveyed his birdie putt, Rahm rammed in a 10-footer for birdie to join Thomas at 17-under — a share of third place. Suddenly Thomas’ putt meant the difference between T3 (a $3.5 million payday) and T2 (a $4.5 million payday).

Never a doubt. Thomas found the bottom of the cup and banked a little extra change; no doubt good news with holiday shopping just around the corner.

“I mean, it sucks because I didn’t win,” Thomas said afterwards. “You’re obviously playing for a lot of money, but I’m here to try to win the tournament and came up just a little short.”

Credit to his competitive spirit, but Thomas did win an extra million bucks on the final green — so he’s got that going for him. The FedEx Cup has some strong consolation prizes.

Latest In News

22 minutes ago

Rory McIlroy sees 1 truth in tough conditions at Golden Age Philly Cricket Club

1 hour ago

In Philadelphia, a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day for golf-watching

1 hour ago

Truist Championship weekend betting picks: Best values with two rounds left

3 hours ago

'I was like, Oh, s---': Why this rookie caddie apologized to Rory McIlroy

Dylan Dethier

Dylan Dethier

Golf.com Editor

Dylan Dethier is a senior writer for GOLF Magazine/GOLF.com. The Williamstown, Mass. native joined GOLF in 2017 after two years scuffling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams College, where he majored in English, and he’s the author of 18 in America, which details the year he spent as an 18-year-old living from his car and playing a round of golf in every state.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

Putters
xander schauffele odyssey putter

The magic behind Xander Schauffele's Odyssey O-Works Red putter

By: Jonathan Wall
News
justin thomas and jordan spieth at the presidents cup

Jordan Spieth's unique brand of golf is hard to explain. Ask Justin Thomas

By: James Colgan
News
xander schauffele patrick cantlay presidents cup

Have Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay become the U.S.'s new dominant duo?

By: James Colgan
Instruction
scottie scheffler and sam burns

In odd rules twist, this U.S. player was forced to hit a putt *before* opponent’s approach

By: Alan Bastable
News
Justin Thomas

‘I hit some unbelievably questionable shots’: Justin Thomas’ day was … strange 

By: Nick Piastowski
News
Cameron Young and Collin Morikawa of the United States Team walk the third fairway during the Thursday foursome matches on day one of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 22, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Why Quail Hollow's unusual setup gave this U.S. foursomes team an advantage

By: Jack Hirsh
News
justin thomas at presidents cup

The best Presidents Cup prop bets: 3 picks our expert loves at Quail Hollow

By: Josh Sens
News
scottie scheffler and sam burns

Why this budding bromance could be formidable Presidents Cup pairing

By: Zephyr Melton
News
Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth

‘4-figure’ bets and rope jokes: Inside Spieth & JT's 'chill' Presidents Cup round

By: Nick Piastowski
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version