Opening of PO Round 1 on the 15th with Top 70 Players
Round 2 with 50 Players, Final Round with 30 Players
Woods and McIlroy FedEx Cup Multiple Winners 'History'
Im Sung-jae Ties for 2nd, Best Ever Korean Player Result
The 'War of Money' has begun with a total prize pool of $140 million (approximately 190.5 billion KRW).
The PGA Tour is starting the FedEx Cup Playoffs, known as the "war of money." Last year, Viktor Hovland is seen smiling brightly while holding the trophy right after winning the Tour Championship.
After concluding the 2024 regular season, the PGA Tour in the United States is entering the FedEx Cup Playoffs (PO). Starting with the first round, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, held on the 15th (local time) near Memphis, Tennessee at TPC Southwind (par 70, 7,243 yards), followed by the second round BMW Championship (August 22-25 at Colorado Castle Pines Golf Club), and the final third round Tour Championship (August 29 - September 1 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta) will take place.
The FedEx Cup Playoffs feature the top-performing players of the season. Due to the enormous prize money, it attracts attention comparable to regular season tournaments. Only the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup rankings participate in the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Based on the results of this tournament, the top 50 advance to the BMW Championship, and only the top 30 qualify for the Tour Championship. It is a 'bonus tournament' played without a cut-off.
Huge prize money is at stake. The PGA Tour has expanded the total prize pool further due to the launch of LIV Golf, sponsored by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Until 2022, the total prize money for the first and second rounds of the FedEx Cup Playoffs was $15 million each. Since last year, it has increased by $5 million each, making the total prize money for the first and second rounds $20 million (approximately 2.74 billion KRW). The Tour Championship offers $100 million (approximately 136.4 billion KRW). After the Tour Championship concludes, bonus prizes are awarded based on rankings. The winner receives $25 million (approximately 3.41 billion KRW), second place $12.5 million, third place $7.5 million, fourth place $6 million, and fifth place $5 million, among others.
The FedEx St. Jude Championship and BMW Championship determine the winner through 72-hole stroke play, similar to regular tournaments. However, unlike the regular season, the Tour Championship gives an advantage to players with higher points. The first-place player starts with a 10-under-par stroke advantage. Players ranked 2nd to 5th receive bonuses ranging from 5 to 8 under par. Those ranked 6th to 10th get 4 under par, 11th to 15th get 3 under par, 16th to 20th get 2 under par, 21st to 25th get 1 under par, and 26th to 30th start at even par. The higher the ranking, the more advantageous the starting position.
The "Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods (right) and the "Post-Tiger" Rory McIlroy are the history of the FedEx Cup.
The history of the FedEx Cup cannot exclude the 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) and Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland). The FedEx Cup was launched in 2007. The inaugural champion was Woods. At that time, the playoffs consisted of four tournaments, and he earned a $10 million bonus. However, the format then was based on cumulative points, so it was possible to become champion without winning the final event. Woods finished second in the final but led in points to become the overall winner. In 2009, Woods also held off a challenge from Phil Mickelson (USA) by finishing second in the Tour Championship.
The FedEx Cup champion changes every year. In 2019, a multiple winner emerged again. McIlroy, known as the 'Post-Tiger Woods,' was the protagonist. McIlroy won two consecutive playoff events in 2012 but finished second overall, feeling regret. Four years later, in 2016, he finally secured his first FedEx Cup title. Then in 2019, starting from 5th in the FedEx Cup rankings, he staged a dramatic comeback to become the final winner. In 2022, he made new history by becoming the first player to win the FedEx Cup three times.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is aiming to become the FedEx Cup champion for the first time this year. Scheffler is smiling brightly after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
This year, PGA Tour.com named McIlroy, who has won the FedEx Cup three times, as the top favorite to win. World No. 1 and 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele (both USA), who have won two major championships including the PGA Championship and The Open, are close contenders for the FedEx Cup title. PGA Tour.com ranked Scheffler second, Collin Morikawa (USA) third, and Schauffele fourth among the favorites.
The best FedEx Cup result for Korea is runner-up. In 2022, Im Sung-jae participated in the Tour Championship for the fourth consecutive year and finished tied for second, one stroke behind the winner. He broke the previous best Asian player FedEx Cup record of 5th place set by 'Tank' K.J. Choi in 2007. Im Sung-jae also received a bonus of $5.75 million (approximately 790 million KRW) at that time.
This year, four Korean players are ranked within the top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings. Im Sung-jae leads the group. He is also within reach of qualifying for his sixth consecutive Tour Championship. Having finished 9th in the regular season FedEx Cup rankings, he received a Comcast Business Bonus of $2.2 million (approximately 300 million KRW) awarded to players ranked in the top 10, and is heading into the FedEx St. Jude Championship in good spirits. An Byeong-hun (12th), Kim Si-woo (38th), and Kim Joo-hyung (43rd) are dreaming of an upset. For Korean players to participate in the Tour Championship, winning a tournament is the best route. The winner's prize of $3.6 million (approximately 490 million KRW) secures an early ticket to the final event.
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