TOUR Championship Third-Round Leader Prediction & Odds: Who Leads After Round 3 in East Lake Golf Club?

The TOUR Championship third-round leader prediction and odds markets take center stage this week as the PGA Tour heads to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, for the season-ending FedExCup Playoffs event. The 30-player field will battle for the FedExCup title and a $40 million purse from August 27-30.

East Lake Golf Club presents a challenging test, with players needing strong approach play and consistent scoring to navigate the historic Atlanta layout. That makes the third-round leader market particularly appealing, as golfers who position themselves near the top after Friday can build momentum and take advantage of scoring opportunities during Saturday's third round.

⛳ Who'll lead the TOUR Championship after Round 3?

Scottie Scheffler (+420)

Scottie Scheffler is our pick to lead after the third round at East Lake, where his elite approach play and consistency make him a constant threat to climb the leaderboard. Scheffler opened the TOUR Championship with a 8-under through his opening two-rounds.

With his ability to pile up birdies while avoiding costly mistakes, Scheffler is well positioned to make another move on Saturday. The world No. 1 also enters East Lake as the FedExCup points leader, further highlighting his championship-level form heading into the weekend.

Cameron Young (+960)

Cameron Young is our pick to lead after the third round at East Lake after an outstanding second-round performance moved him firmly into contention. Young fired an incredible 8-under 62 on Friday, putting him at 8-under through two rounds and tied for the tournament lead. That momentum makes him an appealing third-round leader candidate, especially after showing he can attack East Lake and pile up birdies.

If Young can carry the confidence from his 62 into Saturday, his combination of aggressive scoring and current form gives him a legitimate chance to remain atop the leaderboard heading into the final round.

Colin Morikawa (+620)

Collin Morikawa is our pick to lead after the third round at East Lake, where his elite ball-striking and consistency make him a strong candidate to surge up the leaderboard. Morikawa entered the TOUR Championship following a strong showing at the BMW Championship, where he finished tied for fourth at 12-under.

His precision with his irons gives him a major advantage on a demanding East Lake layout, and he has the game to capitalize when scoring opportunities arise. If Morikawa can maintain his rhythm and convert more birdie chances on Saturday, we believe he has a legitimate opportunity to position himself at the top heading into Sunday.

⛅ What to consider when betting on the third-round leader

Betting on the third-round leader of any golf tournament is far different than betting on the tournament winner or any prop market.

Here are the factors I always consider with my third-round leader picks:

• Tee times
• Weather
• Course history
• Recent form
• Key stats for the week

The third-round leader betting market is much more volatile than the 72-hole event. As such, the odds for the tournament favorites are higher in this market, and the odds for the long shots are generally slightly shorter when betting on the 54-hole sample.

Early tee times are typically best to target for your picks. Courses are often at their softest and easiest, with no divots in the fairways or wear on the greens. But the weather can significantly change that line of thought. Monitor the weather to be sure your desired golfers will be dodging the worst of the rain and wind, should any be in the forecast.

I also greatly reduce my timeframe when looking at recent performance entering Saturday's third round.

Saturday's weather at East Lake Golf Club

Weather from Accuweather:

📊 TOUR Championship third-round leader odds

Here are the TOUR Championship third-round leader odds via our best golf betting sites.