After securing two major championships last season, Xander Schauffele now confronts the possibility of his campaign ending prematurely. At the FedEx St. Jude Championship, played at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Schauffele’s position on the FedExCup points list is crucial, as only the top 50 after this week’s event will continue to the BMW Championship in Baltimore. Currently tied for 48th through 36 holes, the world’s third-ranked golfer is barely maintaining a qualifying spot with 69 players in the field.
Current Standings and Schauffele’s On-Course Performance
Schauffele’s score stands at even par, putting him in a precarious spot in the FedExCup rankings as the playoff opener unfolds. With the top 70 players competing this week and the cutoff set at 50, he is hanging on just inside the projected threshold. The pressure is mounting because only a slim margin separates players fighting for advancement to the BMW Championship. Schauffele acknowledged the challenge, telling Golf Digest after his second round,
“In order for me to have a good chance to get to East Lake, I’ve got to play BMW, obviously.”
He added,
“So yeah, that’s first. I’ve got 36 holes and, yeah, I’m just trying to play a little bit better golf each day. So today was a little bit of a setback from yesterday.”
Season Setbacks and Recovery Challenges
Earlier this year, Schauffele struggled with a rib injury that sidelined him from mid-January until March’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. This setback disrupted his momentum and dropped him to 141st in the FedExCup standings upon his return. Schauffele admitted the difficulty in regaining lost ground, saying,
“I was never going to [catch up] with these elevated events with no cut, missing two of them [the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Genesis Invitational]. It was going to be a pretty big thing to overcome.”
He further revealed missing additional events critical for points accumulation, including the American Express, Farmers Insurance Open, and WM Phoenix Open, where he typically performs well.
Consistent Cuts and Recent Form Provide Some Hope
Despite this season’s hurdles, Schauffele’s remarkable consistency remains intact, boasting the longest active streak of made cuts on the PGA Tour, now at 69 consecutive tournaments. However, in 13 starts this year, he has just three top-10 finishes, achieved at the Masters, Genesis Scottish Open, and British Open. The latter two results came in his most recent events, granting him some momentum heading into the playoffs. Still, his spot in the FedEx St. Jude Championship leaderboard puts his streak and playoff dreams at risk for the first time.
Focus on Improvement and Playoff Advancement
Schauffele is determined to improve over the weekend to secure his place. He noted the modest standard needed for a top-10 finish, stating,
“Right now, I’m working on getting a little better. The bar is pretty low at the moment. As it stands, top 10 here [in Memphis] is probably six under at the end of today, so I need to look at making up six shots. It wouldn’t take much to make me happy at this point. Just have to do better.”
With 36 holes remaining, every stroke counts as he fights to extend his season and advance to Baltimore.
Other Players on the Cusp of Playoff Survival
Schauffele is not alone in teetering on the edge of playoff elimination. Matt Fitzpatrick enters the weekend ranked 43rd in the FedExCup standings, with Wyndham Clark closely behind at 46th. Jordan Spieth currently holds the 50th and final qualifying position, while Rickie Fowler and Tony Finau remain just outside the cutoff. These players, like Schauffele, face intense pressure to perform at TPC Southwind to prolong their seasons.
The Stakes and What Lies Ahead
The FedEx St. Jude Championship serves as a critical juncture in the PGA Tour playoffs, where only half of the competitors will move forward. For Schauffele and others fighting to qualify, success here is essential to keep their championship hopes alive and maintain a chance at the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake. With significant career implications at stake, the weekend promises intense competition and high drama as the field battles to secure their place in the next stage of the playoffs.