Who is and who is not in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup 2024, 18 holes to go
This week’s tournament within a tournament, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, could offer more drama than the hunt for the trophy on Sunday, as Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama opened a five-shot lead after 18 holes at TPC Southwind in Memphis, the largest lead after 54 holes on the PGA Tour this season.
But there is still a lot at stake for the other 69 players in the 70-man field for the first playoff event, although Matsuyama, who is seeking his second win of the season and his 10th Tour title, could be tough to catch on Sunday. Only the top 50 in the FedEx Cup season standings will advance to the BMW Championship, the second playoff race, which takes place next week at Castle Pines near Denver. There is also a stakes to be won for qualification for all signature events in 2025 (see “50 is the new 30”).
With points up for grabs being four times the points awarded in the regular season, there’s bound to be a lot of volatility, and that’s exactly what it looks like so far: five players are expected to advance, meaning five have landed on the wrong side of the cut line. (The winner of the playoff event will receive 2,000 points, runner-up 1,200 points, third 760 points, fourth 540 and fifth 440 points.) Here’s who’s expected to advance to the BMW Championship, and who will see their season over if they don’t return on Sunday.
Nick Dunlap waves to the crowd after his round during the third round of the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind. (Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports)
Dunlap, who began the week ranked 67th in the FedEx Cup, heads into the final round alone in second place after shooting 66 (-12) on Saturday. He is expected to move up to 12th in the overall standings if he finishes second this week.
Viktor Hovland tees off on the first hole during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
Victor Hovland needed a good week to defend his BMW Championship title and he came through in the deciding stages. He shot 66 on Saturday to improve to -11 and third place in the overall standings. He began the week ranked 57th in the FedEx Cup and is now expected to move up to 20th.
Justin Rose prepares to putt on the 12th hole during the third round of the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis. (Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
Justin Rose was outside the top 70 until he finished T-2 at the British Open last month. Now he’s close to securing a spot in the top 50. He began the week ranked 55th and is currently T-9, meaning he’s expected to improve to 46th and on to Castle Pines.
August 17, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Harris English plays his shot from the seventh tee during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship golf tournament at TPC Southwind. Mandatory Photo Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
English has experience of being on the cutline in recent years and it hasn’t always worked out in his favor. It will be exciting again as he began the week ranked 51st and is expected to finish 49th.
Nick Taylor of Canada speaks to the media after the RBC Canadian Open Pro-Am at Hamilton Golf and Country Club on May 29, 2024 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Nick Taylor started the week ranked 52nd in the season standings and goes into the final round in Memphis as T-25 and “Bubble Boy,” who is predicted to finish 50th.
Professional golfer Keegan Bradley hits a shot before the start of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
Bradley, the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain, will need a good final round or he will have to play well in the fall or seek sponsorship invitations for next season’s signature events. He has struggled this week and is currently ranked T-62, which has caused his ranking to plummet from 39th to 51st at the start of the tournament and makes him the first man eliminated from the BMW field.
Cam Davis, winner of last month’s Rocket Mortgage Classic, began the week ranked 44th in the season points race but is ranked T-53, which dropped him to 52nd, making him the underdog if he wants a tee time next week in Denver.
Max Greyserman tees off from the 12th tee during the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship golf tournament at TPC Southwind. Mandatory Photo Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Greyserman, who moved up to 47th with his second-place finish at the Wyndham Championship last week, struggled in Memphis and is ranked 62nd. He is expected to slip to 53rd.
June 2, 2024; Hamilton, Ontario, CAN; Mackenzie Hughes plays his shot from the fairway of the seventh hole during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Mandatory Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Hughes, who began the week ranked 48th, called “50 the new 30,” so he knows as well as anyone what’s at stake on Sunday. He heads into the final round ranked T-58, which puts him 54th in the overall standings.
Professional golfer Jake Knapp practices before the start of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
Knapp won the Mexico Open earlier this season and was the bubble boy at the start of the week, but he is currently ranked 68th in the 70-strong field and unless he can improve his position, he is expected to slip from 50th to 56th.
