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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: These 10 Golfers Earned the Most Prize Money in 2024

The 2024 PGA Tour season was not only a sporting highlight, but also a record year financially. Never before has so much prize money been paid out on the PGA Tour as this year. Every victory, whether at the prestigious majors or the regular tournaments, not only meant glory for the players, but also considerable sums in their accounts. Five players even broke the ten million dollar mark in official prize money.

Although there will be plenty more money handed out this week at the Tour Championship, including the 18 million dollars awarded to the winner, this is considered bonus money and not official earnings for the 2024 season. We are therefore already looking at the top earners for the 2024 season.

The Top Earners of the 2024 PGA Tour Season

1. Scottie Scheffler – $29,228,357

Scottie Scheffler dominated the 2024 season, securing the top spot on the money list with over $29 million. A significant portion of this amount came from his triumph at the prestigious Masters Tournament, which not only earned him the green jacket but also provided a substantial boost to his bank account.

2. Xander Schauffele – $18,355,910

With his victory at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon, where he lifted the legendary Claret Jug, Xander Schauffele secured second place on the money list. His consistent play throughout the season paid off, allowing him to earn nearly $18.4 million on the Tour.

3. Hideki Matsuyama – $11,237,611

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama impressed with his win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. This success significantly contributed to his earnings of over $11 million, securing his place in the top 5 of the money list just before the season’s end.

4. Wyndham Clark – $10,901,416

Wyndham Clark delivered an outstanding performance at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he claimed victory despite challenging weather conditions. His total earnings of nearly $10.9 million earned him the fourth spot on the list.

5. Rory McIlroy – $10,893,790

Northern Irish superstar Rory McIlroy secured his place in the top 5 of the money list with his win at the Wells Fargo Championship and other consistent performances. He landed just behind Clark with earnings of around $10.89 million.

6. Ludvig Aberg – $9,728,857

Swedish rising star Ludvig Aberg impressed with his performance on the Tour, consistently contending for victories in nearly all major tournaments. With almost $9.73 million in prize money, he highlighted his immense potential.

7. Collin Morikawa – $8,365,977

Collin Morikawa earned over $8.3 million. Although he didn’t secure a win this season, the world No. 6 delivered seven top-10 finishes in 20 tournaments, securing his place in the top 10 of the money list.

8. Sahith Theegala – $8,281,285

Sahith Theegala continued his impressive development, earning over $8.28 million in the 2024 season. Like Morikawa, the 26-year-old didn’t claim a title but displayed consistently strong performances. Nineteen cuts in 23 tournaments, including seven top-10 finishes, significantly boosted the Californian’s bank account.

9. Keegan Bradley – $6,879,455

Keegan Bradley earned nearly $6.88 million. In addition to his win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, he added another highlight to his season by triumphing at the BMW Championship. This rounded off a very successful season for the newly appointed Ryder Cup captain.

10. Patrick Cantlay – $6,279,965

Rounding out the top 10 is Patrick Cantlay, who also had a solid season, securing a spot among the top earners with over $6.27 million in earnings. Cantlay remained largely in the top 10 of the world rankings throughout the season, thanks to 17 out of 18 successful cuts and four top-10 finishes, ensuring his substantial earnings.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Other American Players

The TOUR Championship at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, is set to begin with much anticipation. As part of the PGA Tour, this tournament boasts a Par 71 course and a winners prize pool of $25 million. Viktor Hovland, the defending champion, will also be in action. The groups are determined by the current FedExCup standings. Round 2 tee times will be announced after Round 1.

PGA Tour Tee Times for American Players

Scottie Scheffler will tee off at 2:00 pm local time, alongside Xander Schauffele from the USA.

Justin Thomas will start his first round at 11:16 am local time, playing alongside Christiaan Bezuidenhout from South Africa.

Tom Hoge is paired with Aaron Rai from England. They will start round 1 at 11:27 am local time.

Billy Horschel’s first round begins at 12:00 pm local time, playing with Tommy Fleetwood from England.

Round Time Player Player Nationalities
1 11:16 AM Justin Thomas Christiaan Bezuidenhout USA, RSA
1 11:27 AM Tom Hoge Aaron Rai USA, ENG
1 11:38 AM Chris Kirk Taylor Pendrith USA, CAN
1 12:00 PM Billy Horschel Tommy Fleetwood USA, ENG
1 2:00 PM Scottie Scheffler Xander Schauffele USA, USA

Text written with the help of AI

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre

The TOUR Championship, part of the PGA Tour, is set to take place at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. The par-71 course will host top golfers competing for the $25 million winners prize. Last year’s champion, Viktor Hovland, will return to defend his title. The groups are determined by the current FedExCup standings. Round 2 tee times will be announced after round 1.

Rory McIlroy starts his first round at 1:38 pm local time. He will be playing alongside Ludvig Aberg from Sweden.

Tommy Fleetwood begins his round at 12:00 pm local time, paired with Billy Horschel from the USA.

Robert MacIntyre tees off at 12:16 pm local time with Akshay Bhatia from the USA.

Aaron Rai is set to start at 11:27 am local time, joined by Tom Hoge from the USA.

Round Time Player Nationality Playing With Nationality
1 11:27 AM Aaron Rai ENG Tom Hoge USA    
1 12:00 PM Tommy Fleetwood ENG Billy Horschel USA    
1 12:16 PM Robert MacIntyre SCO Akshay Bhatia USA    
1 1:38 PM Rory McIlroy NIR Ludvig Aberg SWE    

Text written with the help of AI

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PGA Tour

BMW Championship: Scottie Scheffler Loses It After Missed Green

Scottie Scheffler has played far below his expectations at the BMW Championship so far. After 36 holes, the leader of the FedExCup ranking is only tied 29th. During the second round at Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado, the otherwise calm and controlled world number one showed an unusually emotional side. The normally level-headed Texan had a moment on Friday that many amateur golfers know only too well: Frustration after a failed shot.

Scottie Scheffler Freaks Out After Hitting the Water at the BMW Championship

After a solid start to the round, with a front nine one under par, Scheffler seemed to be on course. But there was a scene on the par-4 10th that quickly made the rounds on social media. Scheffler sent his tee shot 335 meters into the right rough, leaving him with a difficult approach shot over a water hazard. The attempt to reach the green failed and the ball landed in the water. On his next attempt to reach the green, this time from the drop zone about 90 meters from the flag, the situation got out of hand. His wedge shot missed the green, which visibly infuriated the otherwise so controlled professional. “Isn’t that uphill?” Scheffler asked loudly, while his caddie, Ted Scott, walked on silently. But the outburst didn’t end there: “How? HOW?” Scheffler repeated several times. “How is that possible? What the f*ck! That’s impossible!”

The following putt from around seven meters was solid, but Scheffler still had to settle for a double bogey – his worst result of the day. At the end of the round, his score was even-par 72, which dropped him to T29 in the tournament, twelve strokes behind the leader Adam Scott. However, Scheffler does not have to worry about his lead in the season rankings just yet. On the one hand, his lead is enormous and on the other, his closest rival Xander Schauffele has not performed brilliantly in Castle Rock so far.

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PGA Tour

Scottie Scheffler Battling Back Tightness in First Round of the BMW Championship

Scottie Scheffler dealt with back problems during the first round of the BMW Championship on the PGA Tour. After a high draw on the Par-5 17th, Scheffler grabbed his back seemingly in pain. In the post-round interview, the Masters champion spoke about the back issues.

Scottie Scheffler: “I was laboring most of the day to get through the ball”

“With it [back] being a little bit tight, it was hard for me to get through it, and I was laboring most of the day to get through the ball. On 17 I was trying to hit a high draw, and that’s a shot where I’ve really got to use a big turn, big motion. Really just felt it a little bit. But other than that, all good. Maybe I hit a few too many balls yesterday or something. It was just a little sore. I’m sure I’ll get some ice on it and stuff and I’ll be totally fine tomorrow.”

Bad ball-striking perfomance from Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler leads the Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green for the season. In the first round of the BMW Championship though, he lost strokes to the field in SG: Tee-to-Green. This time his putting, which is normally Schefflers weak spot, saved his round. He holed over 100 feet of putts.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour Schedule for 2025 – A Traditional Tournament Is Moved

On Wednesday, the PGA Tour published its playing calendar for 2025. The calendar consists of 36 regular season events and 3 playoffs events. Like this year, eight signature events are part of the regular season. The signature events consist of the same tournaments as in 2024, with the only significant changes being the name of one tournament, one venue and one date. The most significant change was to the Memorial Tournament. While the plan this year was still Memorial, US Open and Travelers (2 signature events and a major), the Canadian Open will take the place of the Memorial Tournament. In 2025, golf legend Jack Nicklaus’ tournament will once again traditionally take place two weeks before the US Open.

The former Wells Fargo Championship is now called the Truist Championship and will take place at The Philadelphia Cricket Club instead of the Quail Hollow Club in 2025. The PGA Championship will be held at the Quail Hollow Club one week later.

PGA Tour: 51st edition of the Players Championship and the four Majors

Of course, the four Majors and the Players Championship are also part of the schedule. It all starts with the 51st Players Championship from 13 to 16 March 2025 – at the TPC Sawgrass, of course. The 89th Masters Tournament will take place as usual at Augusta National from 10 to 13 April 2025. This will be followed by the 107th PGA Championship from 15 to 18 May at Quail Hollow Club. The 125th edition of the US Open will be played at the infamous Oakmont CC from 12 to 15 June. The Open Championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland (17 to 20 July) will be the crowning Major finale.

Different venue for the BMW Championship

The BMW Championship is the second tournament of the FedExCup Playoffs. In recent years, the BMW Championship has regularly changed venues. This year, the men on the PGA Tour will be playing at Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado, while a year later the Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland will be the venue for important points in the playoffs.

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PGA Tour

Bronze Medalist Hideki Matsuyama Robbed After the Olympics

Former Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama was robbed during a stay in London, as were his caddie Shota Hayato and his swing coach Mikihito Kuromiya. The trio made a stopover in the English capital after the games in Paris. In an interview with Golf Digest Japan, Matsuyama revealed that his wallet had been stolen. His two team members’ passports and visas had been stolen, he said. The good news: The bronze medal from the Summer Olympics in Paris is still in his possession. From a sporting point of view, however, the incident has consequences.

Hideki Matsuyama lends caddie from his compatriot Ryo Hisatsune

Matsuyama’s caddie Hayato and coach Kuromiya had to return home to apply for replacement documents. This means he will be without his closest confidants for the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs. Instead of Shota Hayato, Taiga Tabuchi, the caddie of Matsuyama’s compatriot Ryo Hisatsune, will be at the 32-year-old’s bag this week. This information comes from the PGA Tour’s caddie list. Hisatsune finished 83rd in the FedExCup and missed out on the top 70 playoffs.

Matsuyama talked to Golf Digest Japan about his new caddie:”I’m glad he accepted. He’s worked with Hisatsune this year, so I think he knows the ropes, and he can speak English, so I can rely on him.” Matsuyama does not yet know exactly when his regular team will return:”There’s a chance they’ll make it to the BMW Championship (second playoffs event), but we have to go into it thinking it’s close to zero.”

Hideki Matsuyama is in 8th place in the FedExCup ahead of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first event of the playoffs, and is therefore as good as guaranteed a place in the TOUR Championship. The top 30 in the FedExCup after the conclusion of the BMW Championship will play for the FedExCup title and a large prize purse at the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: How does the FedExCup work?

The PGA Tour introduced a new format in 2007 with the FedExCup. The FedExCup is split into two main parts: over 36 regular PGA Tour events and three Playoff tournaments at the end of the season, leading up to the Tour Championship, where the season champion is determined. Winning individual events and the overall title comes with significant financial rewards, with the FedExCup champion earning an extra $25 million. Tiger Woods was the first to win the FedExCup in 2007, and he, along with Rory McIlroy, is one of the few players to have won it twice.

Points Vary by Tournament Importance

To compete in the FedExCup, players must have full PGA Tour membership. Eligible players earn points starting from the season’s beginning, with point values varying based on the tournament’s prestige. Winners can earn between 300 and 750 points depending on the event.

The major championships (Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship) and the Players Championship offer 750 FedExCup points to the winner. The newly added Signature Events provide 700 points. Most other PGA Tour events grant 500 points, except for alternate events running alongside major tournaments, which offer 300 points to the winner.

The stakes increase significantly during the Playoffs, where point allocations change dramatically. Each Playoff event awards 2,000 points to the winner, four times the amount of a regular season event.

Points System Creates Playoff Drama

The top 70 players at the end of the regular season keep their PGA Tour cards and qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs, beginning with the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Since 2019, the Playoffs have been shortened to three events. This change has made the Playoffs more competitive and less volatile. At the St. Jude Championship, 20 players are eliminated, leaving only the top 50 to advance to the BMW Championship.

At the BMW Championship, there is no cut, meaning all players compete through 72 holes. This rule adds to the tension, as even the leader with 2,000 points can be overtaken by any player in the field. However, those at the top still have the best chance to win the FedExCup.

In the past, Playoff points were reset before the final event, meaning that only strong performances in the finale would count. But since 2019, the Tour Championship uses a staggered start system based on Playoff rankings. The leader begins the final event at 10-under par, followed by second place at 8-under, and so on, down to even par for players ranked 26th to 30th. This system rewards consistency throughout the Playoffs while still allowing for a competitive final event.

What does the new format change?

Previously, Playoff points were reset before the finale to keep the competition open until the last event. However, this led to confusion and criticism, including from Tiger Woods, who argued that it didn’t reward season-long performance. The new system aims to make the FedExCup more accessible, particularly for the top 30 players. While the changes wouldn’t have drastically altered past outcomes, they do change how the final event unfolds. Some players excel when chasing down a leader, while others perform better when protecting a lead.

“I would feel better about a ten-stroke lead for four days than having to start from 30th place in the FedExCup like everyone else did before,” said 2015 FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth.

“The new system still gives a player a chance to finish really high and start a run in a week, but at the same time rewards those who have earned it at the top. I like that every shot counts, but also that some count a little more than others by rewarding a good season,” said 2010 FedEx Champion Jim Furyk.

The final Playoff event offers a doubled prize. Each Playoff tournament has a $20 million purse, with the winner taking the largest share. The FedExCup champion earns an additional $25 million from a $100 million bonus pool, most of which is paid directly to the players, with some set aside in a retirement fund accessible at age 45.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: The Race to the FedExCup Playoffs – Why Even a Victory Is Not Enough

The Wyndham Championship marked the end of the 36-event regular season of the PGA Tour, determining the top 70 players who will advance to the FedExCup Playoffs. These Playoffs, consisting of three tournaments, begin with the FedEx St. Jude Championship and continue with the BMW Championship. Only the top 50 players from the St. Jude Championship will move on to the next stage, and this group will also earn spots in all Signature Events in 2025. The season then culminates at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, where the top 30 players will compete for the FedExCup title and a significant $25 million prize. This article takes a closer look at who secured their place, who missed out, and why even a tournament victory doesn’t always guarantee a spot in the Playoffs.

The Top 10 Players: Leading the Standings

Leading the charge into the Playoffs are the season’s standout performers, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, occupying the first and second spots, respectively. Following closely are Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, and Wyndham Clark, all of whom have shown exceptional form throughout the year. Ludvig Aberg, making waves in his debut full season on the PGA Tour, impressively holds the sixth position. He is trailed by Sahith Theegala and Hideki Matsuyama. Perhaps the most unexpected presence in the top 10 is South Korea’s Sungjae Im, who clinched the ninth spot. Rounding out the elite group is Ireland’s Shane Lowry.

Notable Players Missing the Playoffs

Not surprisingly, Tiger Woods is absent from the Playoffs roster. The legendary golfer, who now selectively participates in Majors and his own Genesis Invitational, wrapped up the season in 220th place. For Woods, the result holds little consequence as his focus has long shifted to the bigger stages of the sport. Rickie Fowler, a recent father, also failed to make the top 70, finishing 106th, far from the qualifying mark. Europe’s Ryder Cup stalwart Nicolai Hojgaard, who played a pivotal role in Rome, finds himself on the outside looking in after finishing 81st in the standings.

Matt Kuchar’s remarkable streak of 17 consecutive Playoff appearances came to a halt this year, as he finished 103rd. Similarly, Kevin Kisner, who will once again lend his insights as an NBC commentator during the Playoffs, ended his campaign in 196th place.

The Davis Riley Scenario: When a Win Isn’t Enough

Davis Riley’s situation underscores the unforgiving nature of the FedExCup Playoffs qualification process. Despite claiming victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge, earning a hefty 500 FedExCup points, Riley narrowly missed the cut, finishing 71st—just one spot shy of advancing. This scenario highlights that a single win, no matter how significant, doesn’t guarantee a Playoff spot. A comparison with Sepp Straka, who has yet to secure a win in 2024, further illustrates this point. Straka’s consistency, particularly in the Signature Events, propelled him to 18th in the standings. His two top-five finishes at the RBC Heritage and the Memorial Tournament earned him more points than Riley’s lone victory.

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PGA Tour

Tropical Storm Debby: Round 1 of the PGA Tour Postpones to Friday

Tropical Storm Debby is causing weather chaos on the PGA Tour. Large amounts of water were already coming down in the practice rounds and now it looks like the storm will further hamper the 2024 Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club. What initially looked like a simple storm has developed into a tropical storm over the last few days, forcing the organisers to not only ban spectators from visiting the course on the first day of the tournament but to later postpone the whole first round to Friday.

“Difficult decision” – Tournament Director Powell on the decision on the PGA Tour

In an initial statement on Wednesday morning, there was no mention of the exclusion of spectators, “Debby is expected to move inland Thursday and continue to the northwest before shifting northward across Central North Carolina Friday morning,” wrote the TOUR’s official weather forecast on Wednesday morning. “This will produce widespread rain and a few thunderstorms throughout the day Thursday with showers and isolated t-storms continuing into Friday morning.”

In the afternoon, however, the fears of the organisers and the tour were confirmed. Spectators will have to stay at home on Thursday in Round 1 and the match will be played as far as possible. “This decision was a difficult one for us to make with our partners at the PGA TOUR, but everyone’s safety is our top priority,” Tournament Director Bobby Powell said. “The most-recent forecast looks like the storm could clear our area sometime Friday,” according to a statement on the PGA Tour website.

There was another development on Thursday, when the tournament was supposed to start. The entire first round had to be postponed to Friday because a flash flood warning was in effect for the Greensboro area. “This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation,” wrote the National Weather Service.

Spectators with tickets for the first day can use them on the three following tournament days should the weather improve.

The last tournament before the FedEx Cup playoffs could be a last chance for some players to qualify for the FedEx St. Jude Championship the following week.