The FedEx Cup playoffs have officially arrived, marking the most important stretch of the PGA Tour season. After months of competition, the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings have earned places in the postseason, where every shot could determine who lifts the prestigious trophy and claims one of golf’s biggest prizes.
The three-event playoff series begins with the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis before moving to the BMW Championship and concluding at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. This year’s playoffs feature a strong field led by World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, while stars such as Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland are all chasing the season-ending title.
How the FedEx Cup playoffs work
The FedEx Cup rewards players based on their performance throughout the PGA Tour season.
The playoff format includes:
- FedEx St. Jude Championship – Top 70 players qualify.
- BMW Championship – Field reduced to the top 50.
- Tour Championship – Only the top 30 advance to compete for the FedEx Cup title.
Beginning with recent format updates, the Tour Championship is played as a traditional 72-hole stroke-play tournament without staggered starting scores, making every player begin on equal footing.
Scottie Scheffler enters as the player to beat
Scottie Scheffler heads into the playoffs atop the FedEx Cup standings after another remarkable PGA Tour campaign. His consistent finishes throughout the season have made him the favorite entering the postseason.
However, Scheffler faces plenty of challengers, including:
- Rory McIlroy
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Cameron Young
- Collin Morikawa
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Xander Schauffele
With playoff events awarding significantly more points than regular tournaments, dramatic changes in the standings remain possible over the next three weeks.
Daniel Berger withdraws before playoff opener
One of the biggest stories entering the playoffs is the withdrawal of Daniel Berger.
Berger, who qualified by finishing 60th in the FedEx Cup standings, pulled out of the FedEx St. Jude Championship because of injury. His absence reduces the opening playoff field and ends his hopes of advancing to the BMW Championship. Berger has battled back issues in recent seasons and had already withdrawn from the Wyndham Championship before missing the playoff opener.
Players who narrowly made the FedEx Cup field
The final regular-season event created plenty of drama.
Rookie Jackson Koivun secured the final playoff berth after an impressive late-season surge, while Michael Brennan’s victory at the Wyndham Championship vaulted him comfortably into the postseason.
Meanwhile, several established stars—including Brooks Koepka, Keegan Bradley, Jason Day and Tony Finau—failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs, ending long streaks of postseason appearances.
FedEx Cup schedule
The 2026 FedEx Cup Playoffs include:
- FedEx St. Jude Championship
- BMW Championship
- Tour Championship
The champion will be crowned after the Tour Championship, where the season-long race reaches its conclusion.
Who are the favorites to win the FedEx Cup?
Heading into the playoffs, several golfers appear well positioned to contend:
- Scottie Scheffler
- Rory McIlroy
- Collin Morikawa
- Xander Schauffele
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Tommy Fleetwood
Given the increased points available during the playoffs, a victory in one of the first two events can dramatically reshape the standings before the Tour Championship.
Final thoughts
The FedEx Cup playoffs promise three weeks of elite golf featuring the PGA Tour’s biggest names competing for one of the sport’s richest prizes. With Scottie Scheffler leading the standings, Rory McIlroy chasing another title, and several rising stars looking to make history, the race remains wide open. As the field narrows from 70 to 30 players, every round will carry enormous significance in determining the 2026 FedEx Cup champion.
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