The Wyndham Championship is upon us. That means the FedEx Cup Playoffs start next week in Memphis.
This whole playoff system will be changing for the 2028 season so we only have two more of these post-seasons in their current form. Which, honestly, is for the best. The FedEx Cup is pretty boring.
Having said that, there are a few individual storylines to keep an eye on this week in Greensboro as players battle for position.
Players who finish in the top 70 after this week will secure their full-time PGA Tour card for 2027 without having to worry about playing in the fall. And those in the top 50 following the FedEx St. Jude Championship will have access into all of the Signature Events.
So in terms of setting up a schedule moving forward, this is the last chance for these guys to book their ticket.
1. Jackson Koivun (70th)
Koivun won the 3M Open in July which catapulted him up the FedEx Cup points standings. He was a late arrival to the party as he is only a few starts into his pro career.
He’s right on the number at No. 70. It would be huge for him to get into the St. Jude Championship and take a shot at reaching Signature Event status.
Koivun is exempt on Tour through the 2028 season after his victory but he can take another step forward by making a playoff run.
2. Jason Day (75th)
Day needs at least a T12 finish at the Wyndham to push himself into a playoff spot.
He is not fully exempt on Tour beyond this season although he is in the top 50 of the Tour’s career money list which allows him to use a one-time exemption if he wants.
He could also play in the Fall Series to ensure that he stays in the top 125 to keep his card.
However, Day wouldn’t be in the 2027 Signature Events unless he plays well the next two weeks and reaches the BMW Championship.
3. Brooks Koepka (86th)
Koepka is going to need a very good week at Sedgefield CC in order to reach the playoffs. His minimum required finish is solo fourth and even that might not be enough.
Obviously, Koepka won the 2023 PGA Championship and has his five-year Tour exemption because of that so his future on Tour is secure for many years to come. He has a full card through 2028.
However, it’s been a lackluster season for him and there is no guarantee Koepka will get to play in the top Tour events moving forward. He is not allowed to take sponsor exemptions into those events as part of his return to the Tour so that is not an option.
Whether it’s this week or next season, he’s going to have to earn his way into Signature Events based on his play.
4. Tony Finau (89th)
Finau will need at least a T3 finish this week to gain entry into the FedEx Cup playoffs.
It’s been a rough ride for Finau over the last two seasons. He just hasn’t been the same guy we saw a few years back when he rattled off a handful of wins.
Finau is no longer exempt on Tour and will likely be playing in the Fall Series to secure his card for 2027. However, he is another guy in the top 50 of the career money list so he has that bullet in the chamber to trigger a one-time exemption if he needs it.
As with Koepka, the real story is that Finau is not in line to play the Signature Events moving forward.
5. Billy Horschel (107th)
This one snuck up on me. Horschel has endured some injuries (he needed hip surgery) and hasn’t regained his form yet. He will need at least a T2 this week for a chance to make the playoffs.
As with Finau, Horschel’s exemption from winning his last Tour event expires at the end of this season. And you can copy and paste the career money list exemption possibility.
The former Florida Gator will turn 40 this December and is definitely on the outside looking in for playing on the Tour’s upper level.
Top Photo Caption: Koepka hits a tee shot during the U.S. Open (GETTY IMAGES/Andrew Redington)
Josh
21 hours ago
Saying Koivun is ‘in danger’ of missing the playoffs s a bit disingenuous – he’s potentially going to *make* the playoffs despite playing in like, 5 events this season.
That’s absurd.