The excitement of the 2024 PGA Tour postseason reaches a fever pitch as the FedEx Cup Playoffs commence at TPC Southwind. This year's St. Jude Championship welcomes the top 70 players from the regular season to compete in a high-stakes battle. Out of these elite contenders, only fifty will advance to the BMW Championship, with the aim to secure their spots in every PGA Tour signature event for the 2025 season.
High Stakes at TPC Southwind
Throughout its history, TPC Southwind has been a challenging course, playing to a par of 70 and stretching over 7,243 yards. The St. Jude Championship, scheduled from August 15-18, not only tests the players' skills but also offers a tantalizing purse of $20 million. As the playoffs begin, several notable players find themselves in precarious positions.
Jordan Spieth, Min Woo Lee, Justin Rose, Nick Dunlap, and Nick Taylor are all teetering on the brink of elimination, making every stroke crucial. Not far behind, Viktor Hovland stands at No. 57 in the standings, needing a significant performance to advance. Hovland, who finished third at this year's PGA Championship, has had a mixed season with struggles in approach and around the green, ranking 175th out of 176 players in those statistics.
Top Contenders and Their Pursuit of Glory
Amidst the high-pressure environment, Scottie Scheffler remains a dominant figure, seeking his eighth victory of the year. Scheffler aims to stride into the Tour Championship with a commanding two-stroke lead for the third straight season, a testament to his consistent excellence. Together with Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy, Scheffler has accumulated ten PGA Tour victories in 2024, highlighting their formidable performances this season.
Schauffele, particularly, has been a model of consistency with no finishes outside the top 25 since February's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. However, he has struggled historically at TPC Southwind, with his only top 20 finish dating back to 2020. McIlroy, on the other hand, has found success at this course, boasting four top-12 finishes in seven visits, including a T3 finish last year. Notably, McIlroy has achieved four top-five results in his last six tournaments, demonstrating peak form as he enters the playoffs.
Players to Watch
Several other top players will also be under the microscope. Collin Morikawa, with three top 20s in four appearances at TPC Southwind, looks to break through for his first victory of the year. Patrick Cantlay, consistently finishing in the top 25, will also be a key player to watch, having delivered notable top-five results at the U.S. Open and the Travelers Championship.
Ludvig Åberg, Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala, Sungjae Im, Justin Thomas, and Brian Harman, all inside the top 20 of the FedEx Cup standings, have yet to taste victory in 2024. Their hunger for a win could add an extra layer of intensity to the championship, as they aim to change the narrative during this critical juncture of the season.
The Road Ahead
As the St. Jude Championship unfolds, the tension mounts with each round. The path to the BMW Championship is fraught with challenges, and only the top 50 will move forward. Every shot, every decision on the course, will carry immense weight as players vie for their future in the PGA Tour signature events of 2025. With veterans and rising stars alike, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown at TPC Southwind, promising golf fans an unforgettable start to the FedEx Cup Playoffs.