The offseason hiatus has come to an end as the PGA Tour launches its new season in the scenic Napa Valley, California, setting the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating slate of competitions. This season arrives on the heels of Scottie Scheffler's momentous victory at the Tour Championship, which brought with it a staggering $25 million payout.
The FedEx Cup Fall Series Takes Center Stage
A pivotal part of the PGA Tour's calendar, the FedEx Cup Fall series features eight intensely contested events. This series is a lifeline for players who fell short of the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings after the St. Jude Championship. While top players like Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, and Viktor Hovland opt to sit out this fall, the competition remains fierce. The winners of these fall events earn not only a two-year PGA Tour exemption but also qualification for The Players Championship, making this series crucial for many aspirants.
The Fall series showcases a diverse range of tournaments, starting with the Procore Championship and the Sanderson Farms Championship, culminating in November with the RSM Classic. Notably, this year introduces the new Black Desert Championship in Utah, adding extra excitement to the mix.
Who to Watch: Players to Compete
For golfers near the FedEx Cup cutoff, these fall tournaments are their battleground. Fans can expect to see names like Wyndham Clark, Gary Woodland, Webb Simpson, Max Homa, Corey Conners, Harris English, Min Woo Lee, and Sahith Theegala teeing off at the Procore Championship.
Players edging close to the all-important top 125 mark will be under the microscope. Zac Blair (No. 113), Kevin Tway (No. 122), and Sam Ryder (No. 125) know how critical this period is for retaining their PGA Tour cards for the 2025 season. The stakes are high, and for these players, every shot counts.
FedEx Cup Standings: Current Leaders
Heading the FedEx Cup standings, Tom Kim sits comfortably in the lead with 1,079 points. Close on his heels is Mackenzie Hughes with 1,048 points, followed by Maverick McNealy who rounds out the top three with 1,045 points. Patrick Rodgers, Justin Rose, and Seamus Power are also not far behind, within striking distance and ready to make their move.
Impact of FedEx Cup Points
One unique aspect of the current FedEx Cup format is the carryover of points from the regular season into the fall series. This approach ensures that every event contributes to the broader journey towards FedEx Cup success. Players ranked between Nos. 51-60 after the fall series have an additional incentive to perform well; they will earn exemptions to two of the first three signature events of 2025, including The Sentry, Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and the Genesis Invitational.
This strategic structure not only keeps the competitive spirit alive throughout the fall but also rewards consistency and top-tier performance across the longer term of the season.
As the new PGA Tour season swings into action amidst the vineyards of Napa Valley, both fans and players alike are set for a thrilling time. While the top brass may skip the fall series, the spotlight now turns to those hungry for their big moment, all vying for the chance to carve out their space on the grand stage of golf.