Tag: PGA Tour

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PGA Tour

FedExCup Fall Explained – Excitement and Opportunities on the PGA Tour

Fans can expect plenty of excitement and drama during the Fall Season on the PGA Tour. (Source: Getty)

The FedExCup Fall Series on the PGA Tour promises more drama and tension than ever, as players compete in top-tier events to secure their PGA Tour status. The fall tournaments offer winners the same benefits as regular-season events – including a two-year PGA Tour exemption, 500 FedExCup points, and entry into prestigious tournaments like The Players, The Sentry, and the Majors that invite PGA Tour winners.

FedExCup Fall: Fight for PGA Tour Status and Signature Events

The FedExCup Fall is also the time when the 125 spots for full-field events are up for grabs, along with a coveted place in The Players tournament for the following season. After the conclusion of the FedExCup Playoffs, players who are ranked 51st and below in the FedExCup standings continue to compete for points in the fall. They begin this stretch with all the points they’ve accumulated during the regular season and the first FedExCup Playoffs event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Additionally, the top 10 players on the FedExCup points list at the end of the fall, who have not yet qualified for the Signature Events, will have a chance to participate in the two Signature Events following the season opener. This allows rising stars to test themselves against the best players.

Those ranked 51st to 70th in the FedExCup standings at the start of the fall have already secured their Top 125 eligibility for the following year but are competing for spots in the first two Signature Events. Players ranked 71st and above can earn one of 10 available spots in these Signature Events, while also fighting to remain in the Top 125 of the FedExCup standings by the end of the fall season. Players who finish between 126th and 150th on the final points list will gain conditional status for the 2024 PGA Tour season. Any player outside the Top 125 will have the opportunity to improve or regain their Tour status through PGA Tour Q-School.

FedExCup Fall Schedule Overview

DateTournamentGolf CourseLocationPurse
Sept. 12-15Procore ChampionshipSilverado Resort (North Course)Napa, CA, USA$6,000,000
Sept. 26-29Presidents CupRoyal Montreal GC (Blue)Montreal, Quebec, CAN–
Oct. 3-6Sanderson Farms ChampionshipThe Country Club of JacksonJackson, MS, USA$7,600,000
Oct. 10-13Black Desert ChampionshipBlack Desert Resort Golf CourseIvins, UT, USA$7,500,000
Oct. 17-20Shriners Children’s OpenTPC SummerlinLas Vegas, NV, USA$7,000,000
Oct. 24-27ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIPAccordia GolfChiba, JPN$8,500,000
Nov. 7-10World Wide Technology ChampionshipEl Cardonal at DiamanteLos Cabos, MEX$7,200,000
Nov. 14-17Butterfield Bermuda ChampionshipPort Royal Golf CourseSouthampton, BER$6,900,000
Nov. 21-24The RSM ClassicSea Island Golf Club (Seaside)St. Simons Island, GA, USA$8,000,000
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LIV Tour Uncategorized

LIV Golf Schedule 2025 Overlaps with Important PGA Tour Tournaments

The LIV Golf Singapore and The Players will be played on the same weekend. (Image: Getty)
The LIV Golf Singapore and The Players will be played on the same weekend. (Image: Getty)

The LIV Golf League has announced the first four tournaments for the 2025 schedule. LIV Golf will start its season in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, February 6-8. A week later the saudi-financed circuit will head to Australia for one of their marquee events. LIV Golf Adelaide (Feb. 14-16) will once again be played on “The Grange”. LIV Golf Hong Kong (Mar. 7-9) and LIV Golf Singapore (Mar. 14-16) round out the first events of the 2025 schedule. At first sight it is obvious, that the circuit starts the next season with an international schedule. If you also take a look on which PGA Tour events will be played parallel to LIVs events, it will show, that the league is not backing down from important and prestigious PGA Tour tournaments.

LIV Golf Singapore and The Players on the same weekend

Certainly the most notable overlap is the one between the Singapore Event and The Players (Mar. 13-16). While this might be the most notable overlap, the other three are also woth noting. The season kickoff in Saudi Arabia will take place February 6-8 parallel to the WM Phoenix Open (Feb. 6-9). A week later the Adelaide event (Feb. 14-16) and the Genesis Invitational (Feb. 13-16) are set. Last but not least the Hong Kong tournament overlaps with the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

It has to be mentioned, that due to the time difference the events will not overlap in terms of (TV-)time. Nonetheless it will be interesting to see, if there is any effect on either of the tournaments.

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PGA Tour

Scottie Scheffler – A Season Of Superlatives

Scottie Scheffler at what will probably be his greatest triumphs in 2024: the US Masters and the Olympic Games. (Photos: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler at what will probably be his greatest triumphs in 2024: the US Masters and the Olympic Games. (Photos: Getty)

By winning the Tour Championship, Scottie Scheffler underlined his incredible season on the PGA Tour, which he also ended as FedEx Cup winner for the first time. The 28-year-old played a season of superlatives that brought back memories of a certain Tiger Woods. A look back at great triumphs, prize money records and a scoring average that is second to none.

Title No. 7 – Scottie Scheffler follows in the footsteps of Tiger Woods

For Scottie Scheffler, the triumph at the Tour Championship 2024 was not only the brilliant end to an exceptional season, but also his seventh victory on the PGA Tour 2024 – an achievement that had not been equaled since Tiger Woods in 2007. The 28-year-old also secured all of his tournament victories at prestigious events with well-known competitors. Scheffler’s first triumph of the calendar year at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the beginning of March was followed by a victory at the Players Championship just one week later. In April, the American recorded his third and biggest triumph of the season on the PGA Tour at the US Masters 2024, followed by a victory at the RBC Heritage a week later. In June, Scheffler finally triumphed at two more signature events: the Memorial Tournament and the Travelers Championship. The Tour Championship victory marks the crowning glory of this impressive season on the PGA Tour, including prize money of an incredible 25 million US dollars – the biggest individual prize money in the history of the PGA Tour.

TournamentPrize Money
Arnold Palmer Invitational$4.000.000
Players Championship$4.500.000
US Masters$3.600.000
RBC Heritage$3.600.000
The Memorial Tournament$4.000.000
Travelers Championship$3.600.000
Tour Championship$25.000.000

Including the FedExCup victory, Scottie Scheffler’s earnings on the PGA Tour this year amounted to an incredible 62.3 million US dollars – unsurprisingly another record. For comparison: Tiger Woods’ 2000 season is considered one of the greatest in history – he won three of his 15 major championships by a total of 24 strokes, won nine times in 20 tournament starts and collected around 9.2 million dollars that year. So much for the increasing prize money on the PGA Tour.

Olympic gold: Scheffler’s crowning glory at the gates of Paris

Scottie Scheffler did not celebrate possibly his most important victory of the year on the PGA Tour. On the outskirts of Paris, the 28-year-old was crowned Olympic champion for the first time after a final-day thriller. In his gold triumph, Scheffler set a course record at Le Golf National and beat Tommy Fleetwood from England (silver) and Hideki Matsuyama from Japan (bronze).

Scheffler delivers historic scoring record on the PGA Tour

Scottie Scheffler set another record with the lowest scoring average in the history of the PGA Tour. His average score of 68 strokes for the entire season is the lowest ever recorded in the PGA Tour statistics. This is also reflected in his season statistics: Scheffler leads the field on the PGA Tour in the ‘Strokes Gained’ category, as well as in ‘Greens in Regulation’ and the ‘Putting Average’, to name just a few statistics.

Arrest and baby happiness – “I feel like I’ve lived almost a full lifetime in this one year”

In addition to all the major triumphs, statistics and prize money, Scottie Scheffler also caused quite a stir off the golf course this season. While the birth of his son was the big highlight in the life of the world number one, many golf fans will probably remember Scheffler’s curious arrest at the PGA Championship. Following his Tour Championship victory, Scottie Scheffler summed up his year 2024 appropriately: “I feel like I’ve lived almost a full lifetime in this one year. It’s been nuts.”

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PGA Tour

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

The top earners of the 2024 PGA Tour season (Source: Getty)
The top earners of the 2024 PGA Tour season (Source: Getty)

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.

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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

PGA Tour Tee Times US Players (Image: Getty)
PGA Tour Tee Times US Players (Image: Getty)

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
PGA Tour Tee Times: TOUR Championship

Text written with the help of AI

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PGA Tour

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

PGA Tour Tee Times (Image: Getty)
PGA Tour Tee Times (Image: Getty)

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    
PGA Tour Tee Times: TOUR Championship

Text written with the help of AI

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PGA Tour

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

Scottie Scheffler on the 17th hole of Castle Pines GC. First Round of the BMW Championship. (Image: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler on the 17th hole of Castle Pines GC. First Round of the BMW Championship. (Image: Getty)

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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Top Tours

Jon Rahm: “They just Make something Up”

Jon Rahm (Image: Getty)
Jon Rahm (Image: Getty)

Just under a week ago, US golf journalist Jaime Diaz fueled the rumor mill surrounding Jon Rahm. In a lengthy Golf Digest article, Diaz cited an alleged statement from an unnamed “veteran tour insider” who said of Rahm: “I am 100 percent positive that if Jon could give the money back to the Saudis and come back to the tour, he couldn’t write the check fast enough. Now there are only four times a year when he’s playing that anybody is remotely interested. He thought his stature in the game was secure no matter where he was playing, and it was a bad miscalculation”. During a rain delay at the LIV event at Greenbrier last weekend, Rahm was confronted with the statement and asked for a reaction, according to the X account “Pro Golf Critic”. A video recording of Rahm’s reaction does not exist, so it is not 100 percent verifiable whether he really reacted as follows.

Jon Rahm: “Couldn’t be further from the truth”

The Spaniard responded: “Yeah that’s why I can’t stop smiling out here. They just make something up.[The claim of the insider] Couldn’t be further from the truth”. The two-time major champion’s answer – if it was really given – can now be believed or not. To realize that the alleged claim of the “veteran tour insider” may not be completely out of thin air, you only need to recall a few of Jon Rahm’s statements during 2024.

Here are three statements made by the 29-year-old during the season: “Not being there was difficult. It’s a decision I made, and I’m comfortable with it. […] But I hope I can come back”. That is a statement made by Rahm at the beginning of 2024, when talking about the three PGA Tour tournaments he was not allowed to defend due to his defection to LIV. With regard to a change in the LIV format from 54- to 72-hole tournaments, he made the following comments in April: “The closer we can get LIV to do some of these things, the better”. In the run-up to the 2024 PGA Championship, the former Masters champion caused a stir when he said the following: “I’m still a PGA Tour member, whether suspended or not & I still want to support the PGA Tour”.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: How does the FedExCup work?

How does the FedExCup work? (Photo: Getty)
How does the FedExCup work? (Photo: Getty)

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

PGA Tour: Davis Riley misses the playoffs despite winning a tournament. (Photo: Getty)

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.