Imagine the FedEx Cup as one big golf tournament with a twist. It’s not just about winning individual tournaments; it’s about accumulating points throughout the season to qualify for a final championship.
The PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup points system is a complex way to determine the champion at the end of the season. But, before we get into how it works, we’ve briefly explained how the old system worked and what changes have been made to the new one.
By doing this, you should have a clear understanding of the points process and how the FedEx Cup works by the end of the article.
Old FedEx Cup points system
Regular Season: Players earned points based on their finish in tournaments.
Playoffs: The top 125 players in the regular season points standings qualified for the playoffs. The playoffs consisted of three tournaments: The FedEx St. Jude Championship, the BMW Championship, and the Tour Championship.
Tour Championship: The top 30 players in the playoff points standings qualified for the Tour Championship. Points were awarded based on a player’s starting position in the tournament. The player with the most points at the end of the Tour Championship was crowned the FedEx Cup champion.
Changes to the New FedEx Cup system
Starting Strokes: The top 30 players in the playoff points standings are awarded starting strokes based on their position. The No. 1 player starts at 10 under par, the No. 2 player starts at 8 under par, and so on until you get to the No. 30 player, who starts at level par.
Points Allocation: Points are awarded based on a player’s finishing position relative to the tournament leader.
Bonus Points: The winner of each playoff tournament receives bonus points.
Why the changes?
The changes were made to create more “excitement” and “drama” in the Tour Championship. By giving the top players a head start, the tournament becomes more competitive and unpredictable.
So, how do the PGA Tour FedEx Cup points work?
The PGA Tour FedEx Cup is a season-long competition that culminates in a three-tournament playoff series. The points system is designed to reward players for consistent performance throughout the regular season and playoffs.
Here’s how it works:
Regular Season
– Players earn points based on their finish in each tournament.
– The higher the finish, the more points are earned.
– Major championships and the Players Championship award the most points.
Playoffs
– The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings qualify for the first playoff event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
– The field is cut to 50 for the second event, the BMW Championship.
– The top 30 players advance to the final event, the TOUR Championship.
TOUR Championship
– The TOUR Championship features a staggered start based on the players’ FedEx Cup standings.
– The points leader starts at 10 under par, while the 30th-ranked player starts at even par.
– The player with the lowest score after 72 holes, combined with their starting strokes, is crowned the FedEx Cup champion.
The exact number of FedEx Cup points awarded for the top ten places in each tournament can vary slightly from year to year. However, the general breakdown works out around:
- Winner: Typically receives 500 points.
- Second place: Around 350 points.
- Third place: Approximately 250 points.
Simplified FedEx Cup system example
Imagine a season with five tournaments:
Tournament 1:
– Player A wins and receives 500 points.
– Player B finishes second and receives 350 points.
– Player C finishes third and receives 250 points.
Tournament 2:
– Player B wins and receives 500 points.
– Player C finishes second and receives 350 points.
– Player D finishes third and receives 250 points.
After two tournaments, the standings would look like this:
– Player B: 850 points
– Player C: 600 points
– Player A: 500 points
– Player D: 250 points
The regular season continues with two more events. At the end of the season, the top players with the most points qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The player with the most points at the end of the playoffs is crowned the FedEx Cup champion.
Key points to remember
More points for higher finishes: The higher you finish in a tournament, the more points you earn.
Cumulative points: Points earned throughout the season accumulate to determine playoff qualification and the final champion.
Playoffs: The playoffs consist of three tournaments with a points system that rewards higher finishes even more significantly.
Additional factors
Major tournaments: Winning a major championship (like the Masters, US Open, PGA Championship, or The Open Championship) awards a significant number of points.
The Players Championship: This tournament also awards an increased number of points.
By understanding this basic system, you can follow the FedEx Cup standings throughout the season and see how players compete for a chance to be crowned the champion.
You can check the latest FedEx Cup standings, here.
