While the FedEx Cup playoffs are far from perfect when it comes to a finale to the regular season on the PGA Tour, it cannot be denied that there does seem to be plenty at stake every time the players tee it up at this stage of the year.
There looks set to be a hugely exciting finish at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, with Tommy Fleetwood looking to secure his first PGA Tour title. Of course, he has world number one Scottie Scheffler lurking just two shots back.
But there is a reason it has been suggested that the St. Jude Championship is the most important week for most PGA Tour players. Those who find themselves inside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings after Memphis will secure their spots in next year’s signature events.
However, that is not all that is at stake for some of those at TPC Southwind.
Two major champions on course to play themselves out of Ryder Cup contention at the FedEx St. Jude Championship
Obviously, some of those involved in the playoffs will likely have one eye on the Ryder Cup in September. As things stand, only Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have officially qualified for their respective teams. Meanwhile, Keegan Bradley has confirmed that Bryson DeChambeau will be involved.
But plenty of players seem to be in a precarious situation. For a couple of players, their position is so precarious that falling at the first hurdle of the playoffs would surely mark the end of the road that they were hoping would lead them to Bethpage.
Jordan Spieth is one of those who needs a brilliant final round to keep his slim hopes alive. Spieth is currently 27th in the Ryder Cup qualification standings and is surely relying on Keegan Bradley putting great stock in his past experience.
Spieth went into this week 48th in the FedEx Cup despite receiving invites to a number of signature events this year. But after rounds of 69, 70 and 70, Spieth is currently tied for 41st at TPC Southwind. And he is projected to fall to 54th in the FedEx Cup.
Not playing at the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship would surely mark the end of Spieth’s hopes of extending his run of consecutive Ryder Cup appearances to six. Bradley has already been warned picking Spieth would lead to uproar.
Jordan Spieth in danger of falling out of the top 50 in the FedEx Cup alongside 2023 Ryder Cup teammate
Another member of the American side in Rome two years ago on course to miss out on the final two playoff events is Wyndham Clark.
It has been a bizarre season for Clark, which is likely to be best remembered for his outbursts of anger at the PGA Championship and the US Open. Brandel Chamblee called for Clark to be suspended after damaging lockers at Oakmont.
Clark’s form has improved in recent weeks, which will have delighted Bradley. He finished tied for fourth at The Open Championship. His cause will have also been aided by the fact he played alongside Bradley during the Presidents Cup last year.
But like Spieth, Clark is projected to fall outside of the top 50 in the FedEx Cup with his current position at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
When you have the likes of Andrew Novak and Akshay Bhatia impressing this week, it is hard to see Clark – who sits 17th in Ryder Cup qualification – at Bethpage if he fails to make it beyond this event.
There is also the wildcard of someone like Rickie Fowler, who is projected to move himself inside the top 50 as things stand.
Bradley knows how quickly things can change after just squeezing into the top 50 last year before going on to win the second playoff event.
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