The tournament within the tournament this week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship may provide more Sunday drama than the trophy chase as Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama opened a five-shot lead at TPC Southwind in Memphis with 18 holes. It represents the largest 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour this season.
But the other 69 players in the 70-man field at the first playoff event still have plenty to play for even if Matsuyama, who is seeking his second win of the season and 10th career Tour title, may be difficult to catch on Sunday. Only the top 50 in the FedEx Cup season-long standings will move on to the BMW Championship, the second leg of the Playoffs, to be held next week at Castle Pines near Denver. Also at stake: qualifying for all the Signature events in 2025 (See “50 is the new 30.”)
With the points up for grabs quadruple the value awarded in the regular season, there should be plenty of volatility and that’s the way it is shaking out so far with five expected to move on and thus five falling on the wrong side of the cutline. [The winner of the playoff event receives 2,000 points, the second-place finisher gets 1,200 points, third place earns 760 points, fourth place receives 540 and fifth place takes 440 points.] Here’s a look at who is projected to advance to the BMW Championship and who would see their season come to an end unless they can bounce back on Sunday.