FedExCup Playoffs: How PGA Tour series works as Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and more eye trophies and cash

Watch the FedExCup Playoffs live on Sky Sports; 70 players featured in the FedEx St Jude Championship but only 50 advanced to the BMW Championship; leading 30 then reached the Tour Championship and have chance to take $25m top prize

Highlights from the final round of the 2023 Tour Championship, where Viktor Hovland impressed to secure the FedExCup

The PGA Tour's season-ending FedExCup Playoffs reach their conclusion this weekend. We explain how the whole thing works, which players are at the top of the standings and who has plenty of work to do…

What is the FedExCup?

It is the season-long points competition on the PGA Tour that ends with one player - the winner of the Tour Championship - scooping $25m (£19.6m).

The top 70 players after the Wyndham Championship in early August advanced to the first playoff event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind.

Image: Scottie Scheffler leads the FedExCup standings and goes into the Tour Championship as No 1 for the third consecutive season

The top 50 after that tournament qualified for the BMW Championship in Denver, with the top 30 then progressing to the Tour Championship finale in Atlanta.

Image: Rory McIlroy has dropped to sixth in the FedExCup standings

Then what happens?

At the Tour Championship, the FedExCup leader - Scottie Scheffler - will begin at 10 under par, with the No 2 player - Xander Schauffele - at eight under, No 3 at seven under, the No 4 at six under and No 5 at five under.

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Players 6-10 start at four under, players 11-15 at three under, players 16-20 at two under, players 21-25 at one under and players 26-30 at even par.

The Tour Championship is a straight 72-hole strokeplay event, so whoever leads at the end is crowned tournament winner and FedExCup champion - plus gets a lot of coin!

Also See:

FedExCup Playoffs schedule

  • August 15-18 - FedEx St. Jude Championship (top 70)
  • August 22-25 - BMW Championship (top 50)
  • August 29-Sep 1 - Tour Championship (top 30)

Who currently leads the FedExCup?

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler's six wins this season have him top of the standings ahead of Xander Schauffele, a two-time major champion in 2024, with the pair remaining in those positions after finishing tied for 33rd and tied for fifth at the BMW Championship respectively.

Scheffler sits on 6,615 points with Schauffele on 5,422 and Hideki Matsuyama on 3,899 in third.

Highlights from the fourth and final round of the BMW PGA Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock

Keegan Bradley shot up to fourth from 50th in the standings on the back of his triumph at the BMW Championship last week, with European Ryder Cup star Ludvig Åberg moving into fifth after finishing second.

Rory McIlroy is sixth after tying for 11th in Denver, with Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay rounding out the top 10.

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Which other British or Irish stars are involved?

Shane Lowry went into the Playoffs inside the top 10 but dropped from 11th to 13th following his tied-13th finish at the BMW Championship, seven places ahead of Robert MacIntyre in the FedEx Cup standings.

Tommy Fleetwood snatched a place in the Tour Championship after moving up from 31st to 22nd thanks to tying for fifth at the BMW Championship, with fellow Englishman Aaron Rai making the cut in 28th.

Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick missed out, however, after dropping to 40th. He could only manage a tied-28th finish at Castle Pines.

Highlights from day four of the Wyndham Championship as England's Aaron Rai secured his maiden PGA Tour title

Who else is in and who is out?

Two-time major winner Justin Thomas managed to cling on for a place in the top 30, despite finishing way off the pace at two over par in the BMW Championship.

He pipped 2023 Open champion Brian Harman, who started last week in 29th, to the final spot in the Tour Championship field.

Former PGA Championship winner Jason Day, three-time major runner-up Will Zalatoris, Alex Noren and Max Homa are among the other notable names who missed out on qualifying to play for the FedEx Cup.

FedExCup champions - the full list

  • 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

Tour Championship first round pairings and tee times

1616: Christiaan Bezuidenhout (E), Justin Thomas (E)
1627: Tom Hoge (E), Aaron Rai (E)
1638: Taylor Pendrith (-1), Chris Kirk (E)
1649: Sepp Straka (-1), Matthieu Pavon (-1)
1700: Billy Horschel (-1), Tommy Fleetwood (-1)
1716: Akshay Bhatia (-2), Robert MacIntyre (-2)
1727: Viktor Hovland (-2), Russell Henley (-2)
1738: Tony Finau (-3), Byeong Hun An (-2)
1759: Shane Lowry (-3), Adam Scott (-3)
1800: Sungjae Im (-3), Sahith Theegala (-3)
1816: Sam Burns (-4), Patrick Cantlay (-4)
1827: Collin Morikawa (-4), Wyndham Clark (-4)
1838: Ludvig Åberg (-5), Rory McIlroy (-4)
1849: Hideki Matsuyama (-7), Keegan Bradley (-6)
1900: Scottie Scheffler (-10), Xander Schauffele (-8)

- All times BST

How can I watch the FedExCup Playoffs?

Here is how to use Sky Sports+, which gives Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost

The Tour Championship is live on Sky Sports, with early coverage from East Lake starting at 4.15pm on Sky Sports + on Thursday. The action picks up on Sky Sports Golf at 6pm, following the conclusion of the opening round of the Betfred British Masters.

There will also be coverage on Sky Sports+ for every round, with a variety of feeds able to enjoy, with coverage starting at 6pm for the first two rounds, 5.30pm for the third round and 5pm for the final round on Sky Sports Golf.

Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.

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