FedEx Cup Playoffs begin as top 69 golfers converge on Memphis

The 2026 St. Jude Championship, the inaugural event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, is scheduled to take place from 13 to 16 August at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. The tournament field has been reduced to 69 players after Daniel Berger, the only golfer from the top 70 regular season standings, did not officially commit to the event. The top 50 finishers at this venue will secure their places in the subsequent BMW Championship.

World number one Scottie Scheffler enters the postseason ranked first in the season-long standings for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Despite being winless since his first start of 2026, the Texan is seeking to build momentum, having finished as runner-up five times this year. This statistic is matched only by Cameron Young and Ernie Els since 2000.

World number two Rory McIlroy is also participating, making his first non-major start in the United States since the Memorial in June 2026. After skipping the tournament last season and considering a similar move this year, the Masters champion has opted to compete in hopes of securing a record fourth FedEx Cup crown at the season finale. McIlroy sits 12th in the standings, firmly inside the top-30 cutoff for the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

PGA Tour rookie Jackson Koivun qualified for the playoffs following his victory at the 3M Open. To extend his season, Koivun requires at least a two-way tie for seventh place. Meanwhile, notable players such as Max Homa, Sungjae Im, and Jordan Spieth remain outside the top 50 cutoff but retain a realistic chance of qualifying for the BMW Championship.

The tournament, designed by Ron Prichard, features a par of 70 and a yardage of 7,288. The event carries a purse of $20 million. With structural changes coming to the PGA Tour season in 2028, securing a spot in next week’s field and future signature events is a priority for those on the fringe of the top 50.