The 2024 postseason has arrived as the PGA Tour tees off at TPC Southwind, ushering in the FedEx Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive year. This prestigious St. Jude Championship will host 70 of the finest players from the regular season as they vie for a spot in the subsequent BMW Championship.
As the competition progresses, the field will be trimmed, with only 50 players advancing past this week. Those who finish inside the top 50 will secure coveted spots in every PGA Tour signature event for the 2025 season. Among those on the brink include Jordan Spieth, Min Woo Lee, Justin Rose, Nick Dunlap, and Nick Taylor, all of whom face the pressure of potential elimination.
Notable Contenders and Challengers
Viktor Hovland, currently ranked No. 57 in the standings, is one to keep an eye on. Hovland, who enjoyed a third-place finish at the PGA Championship earlier this year, faces a tough road ahead as he ranks 175th out of 176 players in approach and around-the-green statistics. This glaring weakness could prove problematic as he battles to remain in the top 50.
Scottie Scheffler is another name to watch. With seven victories already this year, Scheffler seeks his eighth win and aims to enter the Tour Championship with a commanding two-stroke lead for the third straight season. He, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy have collectively amassed ten PGA Tour victories in 2024, showcasing their dominance on the tour.
Interestingly, while Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala, Sungjae Im, Justin Thomas, and Brian Harman are placed inside the top 20 of the FedEx Cup standings, none have clinched a single victory this year. This surprising statistic highlights the immense competition and the unpredictable nature of the sport.
Course Overview and Schedule
TPC Southwind, known for its challenging layout, plays to a par of 70 and stretches over 7,243 yards. The St. Jude Championship is set from August 15-18, with a lucrative purse of $20 million at stake. Performances here could make or break seasons, propelling some towards glory while ending others’ campaign dreams.
Key Performances and Historical Context
Xander Schauffele has demonstrated remarkable consistency, with no finishes outside the top 25 since February's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. However, his track record at TPC Southwind is less impressive, with his only top-20 finish dating back to 2020. Rory McIlroy, on the other hand, boasts four top-12 finishes in seven trips to TPC Southwind, including a T3 finish last year and four top-five results in his last six tournaments.
Collin Morikawa has also shown a solid performance with three top-20s in four appearances at TPC Southwind. Patrick Cantlay comes into the championship with three consecutive top-25 finishes, bolstered by notable top-five results at the U.S. Open and the Travelers Championship. These consistent finishes indicate a strong likelihood of advancing deeper into the playoffs.
As the 2024 FedEx Cup Playoffs begin, the stakes are high, the competition fierce, and the outcomes anything but predictable. Players will need to navigate the challenging terrain of TPC Southwind, manage their nerves, and deliver peak performances if they hope to extend their season and secure their spots for the 2025 signature events.