Finally, the Word 'Playoffs' Is Apt for the FedEx Cup Season Finale

The first of three playoff events will have just 70 players, meaning some big stars will be left out of the running for the big cash.

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From its inception in 2007, the FedEx Cup Playoffs have been somewhat misnamed. The word "series" might be more apt as opposed to "playoffs." Because how can it really be playoffs when just about everyone qualifies?

In 2007, the first tournament of the FedEx Cup playoffs saw 144 players at the Barclays tournament, the first of four playoff events. Two years later, the number was reduced to 125 players, the cutoff number for being a fully exempt player on the PGA Tour.

And through the various iterations of the "playoffs" that have seen the series of tournaments reduced from four to three and the Tour Championship revamped to have players starting with a staggered strokes system with a set score based on their performance to that point, the total field has remained at 125.

Until this year.

Starting at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in August, only 70 players will be in the starting field, a significant difference from the past. Players outside of the top 70 won’t be able to compete again until September, when a series of seven fall events will help determine exempt status as well as those who will be eligible for the first designated events of 2024.

And those outside of the top 70 won’t be able to compete for the bulk of the $75 million in prize money, including the $18 million that goes to the winner.

That means a good bit more intrigue heading into the final stretch of the regular season, which is now just a few tournaments starting with this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic.

The last designated event was contested at the Travelers Championship, and aside from the British Open in three weeks, the other events that comprise the rest of the regular-season schedule would not necessarily attract all of the top players.

But with that starting number down to 70 for the playoffs—and with 50 for the BMW Championship the cutoff to assure eligibility for all of the 2024 designated events—there is likely to be more interest in several of these tournaments.

Here’s a sampling of some of the players who are currently outside of the top 70 and would miss the playoffs if they started this week: Shane Lowry (74), Adam Scott (76), Gary Woodland (92), Billy Horschel (109).

These players have not assured themselves a spot in the top 50 and thus a start at the BMW Championship: Hideki Matsuyama (52), Justin Thomas (66).

And outside of the top 30 which means a spot in the Tour Championship: Collin Morikawa (32) and Cam Young (48).

Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler lead the FedEx Cup standings, with Max Homa, Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley rounding out the top five. They’re just playing to better their positions right now, with Atlanta and the Tour Championship locked up.

One great week can take care of everything. So can a couple of decent weeks. And there are plenty of those left on the schedule. But there’s still several big names who are having to sweat it out a bit more than they would prefer with just one major championship left on the schedule.