Tour Championship: We've got it made in the fade

The 2024 PGA Tour season finale begins on Thursday with the first round of the Tour Championship from East Lake Golf Club. East Lake is going to look (and play) much different this week after Andrew Green restored the golf course to feature more bunkers, more water and an overall tougher layout that will be firm and fast in the Atlanta heat.

Players have been talking all week about the challenge East Lake will present this year, so let's target some first-round bets based on how we think the course will play.

First-round fades for the Tour Championship

Scottie Scheffler Round 1 score over 67.5 (+100 FanDuel )

Betting against Scheffler is rarely a profitable endeavor, but it won't be easy for him to shoot 4 under or better in his first round at the new-look East Lake. Scheffler tees off last at 2 p.m. ET, so the course is going to play firm and fast for his entire round. It's going to be tough for him to hold these fiery greens with his irons in the heat.

Scheffler is also coming off a shocking performance last week in which he lost strokes on approach for the first time all season. He shot 71-72-74-72 to finish T33 at the BMW Championship, so he isn't coming into the season finale with a ton of confidence.

Sahith Theegala Round 1 score over 69.5 (+120 FD )

Speaking of lacking confidence, Theegala shot 73-71-79-76 at the BMW Championship to finish dead last by four strokes. He had his worst putting week of the season at Castle Pines Golf Club, and he's now lost strokes on approach in five straight starts.

Theegala is also wild off the tee, which wouldn't have been a problem at East Lake before the restoration. Green's new design brings more trouble into play off the tee, so Theegala could put up some big numbers if he's not hitting his driver straight on Thursday.

In the news ...

Royals take down Guardians in third straight game to tie AL Central lead — We officially have a tie at the top of the AL Central, as the Kansas City Royals took the first three games of their crucial four-game series against the Cleveland Guardians to leapfrog them in the standings. The Guardians were huge favorites to win the division a few weeks ago, but their recent struggles could push them down to a wild-card spot. Kansas City, which is now +160 to win the AL Central, will go for the sweep on Wednesday .

Rams trade linebacker Ernest Jones IV to the Titans — The Los Angeles Rams were unable to sign Jones to a long-term contract extension this offseason, and on Tuesday, they decided to trade him to the Titans for a 2026 fifth-round pick . Jones led the Rams with 145 tackles last season, and he fills a much-needed role in Tennessee's injury-riddled linebacker room. The Titans are +950 to win the AFC South this year.

Odell Beckham Jr. placed on PUP list — The Miami Dolphins made a splash in the offseason by signing Beckham as a free agent, but he won't be in uniform to start the year. The veteran wide receiver was placed on the physically unable to perform list , meaning he'll miss at least the first four games of the season. Beckham has not practiced yet due to an undisclosed injury. The Dolphins are -150 to make the playoffs.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Jack Dougherty