FedExCup 101: How the Tour’s playoffs work
The PGA Tour playoffs have seen many iterations since its inception in 2007. Here’s how the current postseason will play out:
What are the FedExCup playoff events?
There are currently three playoff events:
- Aug. 15-18: FedEx St. Jude Championship, TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee
- Aug. 22-25: BMW Championship, Castle Pines Golf Club, Castle Rock, Colorado
- Aug. 29-Sept. 1: Tour Championship, East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia
How many players are in each playoff tournament field?
- The top 70 players from the season-long FedExCup points list qualify for the FedEx St. Jude.
- The top 50 players after St. Jude qualify for the BMW Championship.
- The top 30 players after the BMW qualify for the Tour Championship.
Do season-long points carry over into the playoffs?
Yes, they do.
How many FedExCup points are awarded at each event?
Winners of the first two playoff events get 2,000 points each. Winners of regular PGA Tour events get 500 points, so the average finish of a player in the playoffs will result in quadruple the normal points.
Who leads the FedExCup points list entering the playoffs?
Scottie Scheffler. Thanks to six wins on the year, including a major, The Players and four signature events, he has 5,993 points. Xander Schauffele is second with 4,057.
So Scottie Scheffler is a lock to win the FedExCup title?
No, and that’s where the Tour Championship format comes into play.
What is the format for the Tour Championship?
Players start the finale with an advantage (or disadvantage) based on their season-long performance, through the first two playoff events. This will be reflected in the number of strokes they are spotted prior to the tournament.
The No. 1 player on the FedExCup points list after the BMW Championship is going to start the Tour Championship at 10 under par. Nos. 2-5 will start at 8 under, 7 under, 6 under and 5 under, respectively. From there, Nos. 6-10 will start a 4 under, Nos. 11-15 at 3 under, Nos. 16-20 at 2 under, Nos. 21-25 at 1 under and Nos. 26-30 at even par.
Is there a Tour Championship winner and a FedExCup winner?
No, they are one in the same. Whoever wins the Tour Championship is deemed the FedExCup champion.
So, even if Scottie Scheffler wins both playoff events, he can still NOT be the FedExCup champion?
Correct.
How much money do they play for in the FedExCup playoffs?
The FedEx St. Jude Championship and the BMW Championship both have $20 million purses. The winner will receive $3.6 million.
The Tour Championship is a different animal. It pays out $100 million to the field of 30 (yes, $100 million!). Here’s what the champion and top 10 will receive:
1: $25,000,000
2: $12,500,000
3: $7,500,000
4: $6,000,000
5: $5,000,000
6: $3,500,000
7: $2,750,000
8: $2,250,000
9: $2,000,000
10: $1,750,000
Who has won the FedExCup?
2023 – Viktor Hovland
2022 – Rory McIlroy
2021 – Patrick Cantlay
2020 – Dustin Johnson
2019 – Rory McIlroy
2018 – Justin Rose
2017 – Justin Thomas
2016 – Rory McIlroy
2015 – Jordan Spieth
2014 – Billy Horschel
2013 – Henrik Stenson
2012 – Brandt Snedeker
2011 – Bill Haas
2010 – Jim Furyk
2009 – Tiger Woods
2008 – Vijay Singh
2007 – Tiger Woods
What is at stake for each playoff event?
Qualifying for the playoffs and making the top 70 assures players their PGA Tour cards for the following season. They will be exempt for full-field events and The Players Championship.
Those who make the top 50 will earn spots into the eight lucrative signature events in 2025 as well as The Sentry.
Those who make the top 30 will earn a two-year PGA Tour exemption, qualify for the 2025 Masters and, traditionally, the U.S. Open and The Open. The FedExCup champion receives a five-year Tour exemption.