Memphis heats up as Scheffler chases FedEx Cup title in PGA postseason

By Liam Tremblay — 13 August 2026 — 4 min read

FedEx Cup Playoffs commence

The PGA Tour postseason has begun with the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee. This tournament features a field of 69 players competing for a US$20-million prize. For some players, there is a significant urgency to perform well.

Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 seed, is preparing for three consecutive postseason tournaments. His pursuit of a second FedEx Cup title will largely depend on his performance at East Lake during the season-ending Tour Championship. Scheffler has played TPC Southwind seven times without securing a win at the course.

Players outside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings face considerable pressure. Their season will conclude if they do not advance into the top 50 to qualify for the BMW Championship in St. Louis. Notable players in this situation include Jordan Spieth at No. 54 and Jackson Koivun, who turned professional in June and is currently at No. 70.

Importance of top 50 placement

Finishing within the top 50 of the FedEx Cup this year holds particular importance due to changes in the PGA Tour‘s competitive structure. Those who qualify for the BMW Championship will secure spots in all 2027 Signature Events. This also provides a significant advantage for qualifying for the 2028 PGA Tour Championship Series, which is the elevated series of events in the tour’s new two-track model.

While the exact criteria for the PGA Tour Championship Series are still being finalized, it is anticipated that at least the top 90 players from the previous year’s points list will remain on the elevated track. For instance, of the 50 players who reached the BMW Championship in 2025 and earned automatic exemptions into this year’s Signature Events, only three are currently outside the top 90 in the FedEx Cup standings: Lucas Glover, Jhonattan Vegas, and Brian Campbell.

Securing a spot in next year’s Signature Events is considered the most straightforward way to ensure a favourable position when the PGA Tour implements its structural changes. To achieve this, players must finish inside the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings. This week’s tournament in Memphis is crucial for players to keep their season alive and establish a strong foundation for 2027 and 2028.

Unlike previous years, the FedEx Cup playoff points distribution is now consistent with Signature Events, THE PLAYERS Championship, and major championships. This change is expected to make significant movements up the standings more challenging. Historically, an average of 4.3 players move in or out of the top 50 during the FedEx St. Jude Championship, but this number is anticipated to be halved this week.

Key players and season performances

Rory McIlroy, currently at No. 12, is already set for the Tour Championship. He chose to skip TPC Southwind last year but returned this year, partly because he has played only 11 times on the PGA Tour this season. McIlroy indicated that having four weeks off before the final two events of the year might have been too much for him to maintain competitiveness.

McIlroy’s participation this week also serves as an opportunity to assess his game and practice in the Memphis heat. He will not meet the minimum requirement of 15 tournaments for PGA Tour membership this season. However, due to exceptions such as his status as a life member with 30 wins and his primary circuit being the Europe Tour, this is not expected to be an issue.

The discussion around the PGA Tour player of the year award is a compelling aspect of this year’s postseason, especially since no single player has consistently dominated. Cameron Young, who won The Players Championship, was a frontrunner until Ryan Fox secured the British Open with a birdie on the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale.

McIlroy has one win this year, the Masters. Scheffler also has one win, which came at his first start of the year in the California desert. Despite having only one victory, Scheffler has recorded five runner-up finishes and achieved top-four placements in all but one of the majors, making him a formidable competitor.

Other players with multiple wins include Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Gotterup with three each, and Wyndham Clark, whose two wins include the U.S. Open. Fox and PGA champion Aaron Rai each have one win. A FedEx Cup victory for any of these players could significantly boost their chances for the Jack Nicklaus Award.

McIlroy commented on the player of the year discussion, suggesting that if one values winning major tournaments, Cameron Young and Wyndham Clark would be strong contenders. He also acknowledged Matt Fitzpatrick‘s strong year and Scheffler’s consistent performance, despite fewer wins compared to previous years. The criteria for the award, McIlroy noted, depend on what one values, with his own emphasis on bigger tournaments and significant moments.

The FedEx St. Jude Championship is set to begin on Thursday, with high temperatures expected. The tournament will not be part of the top-tier Championship Series in 2028, as previously announced by the PGA Tour. For now, it remains a crucial event, as the top 50 players after this week will secure spots in all 2027 Signature Events and keep their hopes alive for reaching the Tour Championship.

Source: theglobeandmail.com