FedEx Cup Explained

The FedEx Cup was introduced this season on the PGA Tour to give golf a defined season. I think all golf fans will find closure with this new playoff format at seasons end. The players have been earning points based on their finishes with majors and other top tier tournaments being weighted more heavily, a system modeled after the Nascar points race. Here is a quick breakdown.

The Playoff Format

• Barclays Classic (August 23-26) – Top 144 Points Leaders after the points reset (with 36-hole cut to top 70 players plus ties)
• Deutsche Bank Championship (August 31-Sept 3) – Top 120 Points Leaders after the Barclays (with 36-hole cut to top 70 players plus ties)
• BMW Championship (September 6-9) – Top 70 Points Leaders after the Deutsche Bank (with no 36-hole cut)
• The Tour Championship Presented By Coca-Cola (September 13-16) – Top 30 Points Leaders after the BMW (with no 36-hole cut)

Once the final 144 playoff qualifiers are set, no alternates will be allowed. It is possible for any player among the Final 144 (then 120, then 70) to skip a playoff event prior to the Tour Championship, but to do so is to risk losing their standing on the points list, and this could potentially result in being eliminated from the playoffs.

For the Tour Championship itself, only the Top 30 Points Leaders after the BMW Championship will be eligible. If for any reason a player among the Top 30 does not compete in the Tour Championship, he will not be replaced.

Playoff Rewards

The player with the most points after The Tour Championship will win the FedEx Cup itself and $10 million of a $35 million bonus fund. The runner-up gets $3 million, 3rd place $2 million, 4th place $1.5 million, 5th place $1 million, and so on down to $32,000 for 144th place.

FedEx Cup website.