The 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship: 70 Players Begin PGA Tour Playoffs
The 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship kicks off the PGA Tour Playoffs with 70 of the world’s best golfers vying for a shot at glory. This tournament marks the first of three playoff events that will gradually narrow the field from 70 players to 50, and finally to 30, culminating in the Tour Championship. The ultimate prize? The coveted FedEx Cup and a share of $100 million in bonuses, with the winner taking home a staggering $25 million.
The Wyndham Championship, which concluded last week, didn’t bring any major surprises to the FedEx Cup standings. The 70 players who started the tournament inside the playoff cut line remained there, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense competition at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
The FedEx Cup Playoffs are known for their massive payouts. This year, the stakes are as high as ever, with each of the first two playoff events offering $20 million in prize money. Leading the pack is Scottie Scheffler, who has dominated the season. With playoff points quadrupled, he has a significant lead in the standings and can only lose his top spot if he finishes near the bottom this week and Xander Schauffele, currently trailing by 1,936 points, wins the tournament.
Other top contenders include Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, and Wyndham Clark, all of whom are in the top five and eager to close the gap on Scheffler as the playoffs progress.
While the top players are chasing the title, the real drama is around the 50th position. This is the cutoff for advancing to the BMW Championship and securing entry into all the signature events next season. Jake Knapp currently holds the 50th spot but is just one point ahead of Harris English and Nick Taylor. Every stroke will count as these players fight to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Victor Perez, sitting at 70th in the standings, has the toughest challenge, needing to make up 347 points to break into the top 50. The pressure is on, and every round will be crucial for those on the bubble.
TPC Southwind, a 7,243-yard par-70 course, will challenge the players with its demanding layout. Known for its tricky greens and strategic holes, the course will test every aspect of the golfers’ games. Last year’s champion, Lucas Glover, didn’t make the playoffs this year, leaving the field wide open. However, the 2022 champion, Will Zalatoris, is back and currently sits at 49th in the standings, making him a player to watch.
Here is the complete list of 70 players competing in this week’s tournament:
- Ludvig Åberg
- Byeong Hun An
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- Akshay Bhatia
- Keegan Bradley
- Sam Burns
- Patrick Cantlay
- Wyndham Clark
- Eric Cole
- Corey Conners
- Cam Davis
- Jason Day
- Thomas Detry
- Nick Dunlap
- Austin Eckroat
- Harris English
- Tony Finau
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Max Greyserman
- Ben Griffin
- Emiliano Grillo
- Adam Hadwin
- Brian Harman
- Russell Henley
- Tom Hoge
- Max Homa
- Billy Horschel
- Viktor Hovland
- Mark Hubbard
- Mackenzie Hughes
- Sungjae Im
- Stephan Jaeger
- Si Woo Kim
- Tom Kim
- Chris Kirk
- Jake Knapp
- Min Woo Lee
- Shane Lowry
- Robert MacIntyre
- Peter Malnati
- Hideki Matsuyama
- Denny McCarthy
- Rory McIlroy
- Maverick McNealy
- Taylor Moore
- Collin Morikawa
- Alex Noren
- Matthieu Pavon
- Taylor Pendrith
- Victor Perez
- J.T. Poston
- Seamus Power
- Aaron Rai
- Patrick Rodgers
- Justin Rose
- Xander Schauffele
- Scottie Scheffler
- Adam Scott
- Jordan Spieth
- Sepp Straka
- Nick Taylor
- Sahith Theegala
- Justin Thomas
- Davis Thompson
- Brendon Todd
- Erik van Rooyen
- Jhonattan Vegas
- Cameron Young
- Will Zalatoris
As the playoffs begin, golf fans worldwide are in for a treat. With so much at stake and a field full of talent, the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship is sure to deliver unforgettable moments and thrilling competition.