Collin Morikawa described the FedEx Cup playoffs as “a grind” as the three-week season-ending event starts Thursday at the St. Jude Championship held at TPC Southwind in Memphis. The tournament features the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings, excluding No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who is skipping this stage despite his high ranking.
The playoff structure whittles the field each week, cutting from 70 in Memphis to 50 competitors for the BMW Championship in Owings Mills, Maryland. From there, only the top 30 advance to the Tour Championship in Atlanta, where the FedEx Cup champion will be crowned based purely on the lowest cumulative score over 72 holes.
A Changed Format Raises the Stakes for Players
Last year, Morikawa finished second in the FedEx Cup Final, shooting a remarkable 22-under par, the best in the field. However, Scottie Scheffler won the $25 million prize by starting the final event with a 10-shot advantage, which led to his overall winning score of 30 under par versus Morikawa’s 26 under. The format of starting strokes has now been eliminated, leveling the playing field by setting all players to even par at the start of the Tour Championship.
Morikawa, ranked sixth globally, currently sits at No. 19 in the FedEx Cup standings as he begins this critical stretch. His goal is to stabilize his performance to navigate through the rigorous three weeks.
“Where I’m at, where I’m sitting, you’ve got to make sure you survive and advance,”
Morikawa said in an interview with the Golf Channel. Although he is secure for at least this week’s event—players ranked 24 and above have guaranteed spots for the next playoff stage—he still must find consistency to move forward into the BMW Championship and beyond.
Recent Struggles Make Advancement Uncertain
Morikawa’s recent form has been erratic, with missed cuts at the Scottish Open and the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. He has also not recorded a win since October 2023. The pressure intensifies this week as every shot during the playoffs carries significant weight.
“Every shot matters because it comes down to points, it comes down to a shot,”
he emphasized.
“You just can’t be willing to give out any of that because at the end of the day you want to make it to the end.”
Morikawa will face this pressure with a new caddie, Mark Urbanek, known for his five-year tenure with Tony Finau. This marks Morikawa’s fifth caddie since parting ways with long-time assistant J.J. Jakovac in April. Urbanek replaces Billy Foster, a veteran caddie who worked for Morikawa in his recent Scottish events, as well as Joe Greiner and KK Limbhasut, a former Cal teammate.
Competition and Odds as Playoffs Begin
Scottie Scheffler enters the playoffs as the favorite to defend his title, holding +280 odds with DraftKings Sportsbook, followed by Xander Schauffele at +1800. Morikawa ranks third in the odds at +3000, with fellow California alumnus Michael Kim listed at +17000.
Kim, currently No. 35 in the FedEx Cup rankings, needs at least a two-way tie for 20th place this weekend to advance to the next stage. Kim will tee off at 9:20 a.m. PT on Thursday. Meanwhile, the absence of McIlroy, who is ranked second globally, is stirring concern among officials. McIlroy is using a loophole to skip this week’s event, assured his place in the BMW Championship.
Peter Mainati, a player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board, expressed unease over McIlroy’s decision:
“Very concerned. I think there is stuff in the works (to keep it from happening again) and I’ll leave it at that.”
Ryder Cup Selection Adds Pressure for Morikawa
Beyond the FedEx Cup, Morikawa faces additional motivation with the Ryder Cup competition looming at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmington, New York, in late September. While most golf experts predict Morikawa will be chosen for the U.S. team, his spot is not guaranteed, adding further tension to his playoff performance.
“At the end of the day, great golf takes care of itself. I know I haven’t done that and I’ve made it harder on myself,”
Morikawa admitted.
“I feel like I bring something to that team that no one else can.”
Morikawa has proven his value in team formats, contributing significantly during the 2021 and 2023 Ryder Cups, which ended in a split, as well as in the United States’ clean sweeps of the Presidents Cup in 2022 and 2024.
“Obviously, a huge, huge goal is to make that team. I want to be there. I want to be representing the red, white and blue,”
Morikawa said.
“I’ve done it in the past and there’s no other feeling like it.”
He recognizes that his current challenge is maintaining the high level of play needed to secure both his FedEx Cup ambitions and Ryder Cup berth.
“I’ve got some work to do. But it’s proving to myself that I’m the golfer I know I can be. The game’s feeling a little bit better and hopefully we can put it together for three weeks.”