The 20th edition of the FedEx Cup Playoffs has arrived; here is everything you need to know throughout the postseason


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Another name will be added to the history books in a few weeks, and the 20th edition of the FedEx Cup Playoffs is already looking phenomenal. The 20th edition of the PGA Tour's postseason began with Scottie Scheffler claiming the St. Jude Championship, kicking off a three-pack of events bound to provide drama and fireworks to close out the golf calendar.

For the second consecutive postseason, the finale will look much like those tournaments before it. Changing from a staggered start to a conventional stroke play event without any starting strokes, the Tour Championship will welcome the top 30 finishers from the regular season and the first two tournaments of the postseason to East Lake Golf Club. A staggering $40 million will be on the line.

With changes made to the finale, the PGA Tour will distribute the remaining $100 million bonus pool after the BMW Championship, since every player in the field in Atlanta will start at the same starting point: even par.

Speaking of changes, they are coming to the PGA Tour in 2028, making next season even more important for players and their schedules. Those who finish in the top 50 and qualify for the BMW Championship will be eligible to play in the signature events in 2027.

Scheffler aims to join Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as a multiple-time FedEx Cup champion, while McIlroy eyes his fourth PGA Tour crown. Multiple-time winners Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark and Chris Gotterup, meanwhile, hope to put an exclamation point on their fantastic seasons with one more big trophy lifted above their heads.

While Adam Scott gave himself some breathing room, Kurt Kitayama and Bud Cauley made significant gains at the St. Jude Championship, thrusting themselves into the top 30, where they will need to hang on to qualify for the Tour Championship at the end of the month. Alex Noren (34th, +12) and Jake Knapp (35th, +5) similarly put themselves in position to play the season finale should they have similarly successful weeks at the BMW Championship.

Only Sungjae Im (40th, +13) played himself into the BMW Championship, given his play at TPC Southwind.

2026 Tour Championship format
Players knew at the start of the season that the Tour Championship would be 72 holes of stroke play, without the staggered start previously used at East Lake. As such, if one advances to the Tour Championship, he has a chance to call himself the FedEx Cup champion by week's end.

Every player inside the top 18 in the FedEx Cup standings -- Kristoffer Reitan being the cutoff point -- had a 100% chance of making it to the Tour Championship at the onset of the postseason, according to Data Golf, leaving just 12 spots to shuffle between now and then. Barring a win from someone off the map, most of that shuffling will be contested amongst those players ranked Nos. 25-40 with names like Justin Thomas, Jake Knapp and recent winner Michael Thorbjornsen on the outside looking in entering the BMW Championship.

2026 FedEx Cup Playoffs purse, prize money
2026 St. Jude Championship purse, prize money
Purse: $20 million

1st: $3.6 million
2nd: $2.2 million
3rd: $1.4 million
4th: $960,000
5th: $800,000
6th: $720,000
7th: $670,000
8th: $620,000
9th: $580,000
10th: $540,000

2026 BMW Championship purse, prize money
Purse: $20 million

1st: $3.6 million
2nd: $2.2 million
3rd: $1.4 million
4th: $990,000
5th: $830,000
6th: $750,000
7th: $695,000
8th: $640,000
9th: $600,000
10th: $560,000

2026 Tour Championship purse, prize money
Purse: $40 million

1st: $10 million
2nd: $5 million
3rd: $3.705 million
4th: $3.15 million
5th: $2.55 million
6th: $2 million
7th: $1.45 million
8th: $1.07 million
9th: $900,000
10th $745,000

Last year, Fleetwood claimed his first PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship, bringing home $10 million and, more importantly, the FedEx Cup itself. With the changes to the format, the PGA Tour will distribute a portion of the $100 million bonus pool after the BMW Championship concludes, leaving the Tour Championship with a $40 million purse.

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Posted by Temmy
Mon, August 17, 2026 2:15pm