FedExCup playoffs explained: Prize money, how it works and who’s involved
The PGA Tour’s FedExCup Playoffs are underway, marking the start of a thrilling two-and-a-half week journey that will culminate in the crowning of the 2024 FedExCup champion. With only 70 players remaining, the competition is fierce, and the stakes are high as they vie for one of golf’s most prestigious titles and a substantial cash…
The PGA Tour’s FedExCup Playoffs are underway, marking the start of a thrilling two-and-a-half week journey that will culminate in the crowning of the 2024 FedExCup champion. With only 70 players remaining, the competition is fierce, and the stakes are high as they vie for one of golf’s most prestigious titles and a substantial cash prize.
Throughout 2024, PGA Tour players have competed in 36 FedExCup events, including all four major championships. Now, as the regular season has concluded, the playoffs will determine the ultimate victor, who will be announced on September 1.
Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland enters the playoffs as the reigning champion. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, a three-time FedExCup winner (2016, 2019, 2022), is also in contention. However, he faces the daunting task of surpassing Scottie Scheffler, who currently leads the standings.
The FedExCup is a season-long points race on the PGA Tour. Players accumulate points throughout the season, with the top 70 after the Wyndham Championship in August advancing to the playoffs’ first event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind. From there, the field narrows further, with the top 50 moving on to the BMW Championship in Denver, and the top 30 qualifying for the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
The Tour Championship employs a unique scoring system, with the FedExCup leader beginning the event at 10 under par. The second-place player starts at eight under, the third at seven under, and so on. The remaining players begin the tournament at progressively lower scores, with those ranked 26-30 starting at even par. The Tour Championship is a straightforward 72-hole stroke play event, and the player leading at the end of the tournament will be crowned the FedExCup champion.
As of now, Scottie Scheffler leads the standings with six victories this season and an impressive 5,993 points, well ahead of second-place Xander Schauffele and third-place Rory McIlroy. Other notable players in the top 10 include Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Ludvig Aberg, Sahith Theegala, Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, and Shane Lowry from Ireland.
In addition to these top contenders, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and England’s Aaron Rai are also in the mix, sitting in 17th and 25th place, respectively. Rai recently secured his first PGA Tour title by winning the Wyndham Championship. Fellow Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood (32), Matthew Fitzpatrick (40), and Justin Rose (55) will also be competing in the FedEx St. Jude Championship, as will Ireland’s Seamus Power (66).
For those eager to catch the action, the FedEx St. Jude Championship will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Coverage begins on Thursday at 5 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf and shifts to Sky Sports Main Event at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. Sky Sports+ will continue coverage from 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Fans can also stream the event via NOW.
The FedEx St. Jude Championship runs from August 15-19, followed by the BMW Championship from August 22-25, and the Tour Championship from August 29-September 1.
The stakes are high, with the winner of the Tour Championship set to take home an astounding $25 million (£19.6 million). The runner-up will earn $12.5 million (£9.7 million), and every player finishing in the top 10 will receive at least $1.75 million (£1.4 million). As the competition heats up, all eyes will be on the PGA Tour’s biggest stars as they compete for the coveted FedExCup title.