FedEx Cup Playoffs open in Memphis with 69 players vying for BMW Championship spots
Rory McIlroy returns to the playoff field while Daniel Berger opts out, leaving 69 competitors to fight for advancement to next week’s event at Bellerive.
The PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs commenced in Memphis on Thursday, with 69 players competing at the St. Jude Championship. The tournament serves as the opening stage of the postseason, where the top 50 finishers will secure their place in next week’s BMW Championship at Bellerive.
Unlike the previous year, the field in Memphis is complete with the sport’s highest-profile competitors. Rory McIlroy has committed to the event, marking a return to the playoff opener after skipping the 2025 edition. According to CBS Sports, McIlroy’s decision to sit out last year was partly influenced by his 12th-place standing in the 2026 standings at that time.
The only notable absence from the field is Daniel Berger, who sits 60th in the standings. Berger opted not to commit to the tournament, leaving the remaining 69 players to contest the title at TPC Southwind. Defending champion Justin Rose, who won the event last year, is among the competitors on the course.
Beyond the headline names, the tournament features a critical battle for the final spots in the top 50. Entering the week, Michael Brennan, Matt McCarty, Keith Mitchell, and Maverick McNealy occupy the last four positions in the standings. They are being pursued by Harris English, Max Homa, Sungjae Im, and Jordan Spieth, who are next in line and looking to advance to Bellerive.
The full list of participating players includes Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, Wyndham Clark, Chris Gotterup, Collin Morikawa, Si Woo Kim, Sam Burns, Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Åberg, and Xander Schauffele. The event will be broadcast via PGA Tour Live from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with specific television coverage on Golf Channel, CBS, and Paramount+ during designated windows.
