The first event of the 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, concluded Sunday at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, where Justin Rose defeated J.J. Spaun in a thrilling playoff. While much attention focused on the tournament winner, significant drama unfolded as players fought to secure a spot in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings, a prerequisite to advance to the BMW Championship and remain active in the postseason. This crucial cutoff also allows qualifiers to participate in next year’s eight signature PGA Tour events, which feature elevated purses and points.
Rickie Fowler’s Late Surge Secures Spot in BMW Championship
Rickie Fowler emerged as the week’s biggest mover, climbing from near 70th in the FedEx Cup standings to inside the top 50 following a tied-6th finish at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. This marked Fowler’s best result of the season, significantly boosting his FedEx Cup points total at a critical time after missing the playoffs entirely in 2024. His T6 placement guarantees him entry into the BMW Championship and, importantly, qualification for all eight signature events in 2026 that offer elevated status on tour.
“Well, being that I got a handful of spots this year, which I’m incredibly grateful for, unfortunately I really didn’t take advantage of many of those opportunities up until Jack’s event, didn’t play that well in any of them. Those elevated fields and maybe some more points, I didn’t really get them.”
—Rickie Fowler
“But it was great to have a tee time in them this year, and didn’t really want to bank on that for next year. Yeah, nice to be in a position where we’ll be able to be back in those and not have to write notes and calls and ask for favors.”
—Rickie Fowler
Players Who Gained Entry Into the Top 50
In addition to Fowler, several other players improved their standings enough to advance to the BMW Championship next week. J.T. Poston moved into 51st place, just inside the qualifying range, while Kurt Kitayama rose to 52nd and Bud Cauley 53rd. Jhonattan Vegas also managed to secure his spot after a pressure-filled final round.
Vegas endured a difficult Sunday round, starting with four bogeys in his first ten holes, which put his position in jeopardy. However, he rallied strongly over the last eight holes, posting three under par to cement his place in the top 50. This solid finish will allow him to continue competing in the playoffs with hopes of entering the top 30 and capturing his first Tour Championship appearance since 2017.
“It was a fight. It was one of the hardest rounds of the year I would say, didn’t feel great physically. It’s been a long week, heat, all of it. Didn’t feel 100%. I started kind of shaky the first six holes. I knew that my best wasn’t out there, so I just had to fight, and I had to get my mind in the right frame.”
—Jhonattan Vegas
“Luckily, [I] was able to do that and turn around and make some great birdies on 7 and 8 that kind of got the ship pointed the right direction. But it was a fight all the way. I knew it was going to be that way today. That’s kind of what this time of the year is all about. You know you’re going to have to sweat it out out here.”
—Jhonattan Vegas
Notable Players Missing the Cut to Advance
On the other side of the cutoff, several prominent golfers failed to move into the top 50 and will not advance to the BMW Championship, ending their 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs campaigns prematurely. Three-time major champion Jordan Spieth, who entered the week safely inside the playoff field, fell just outside the bubble after a costly shot into the water on his 72nd hole.
This marks the second consecutive season Spieth will miss the BMW Championship, halting his postseason run despite notable success in prior years. Another major winner, Wyndham Clark, similarly slipped below the cutoff, ending his hopes of competing in the season finale after strong finishes in the last two years.
Fellow FedEx Cup contenders Jake Knapp and Min Woo Lee also failed to secure their positions. Lee, designated the “bubble boy” entering the week, struggled throughout the tournament and closed his season with a notably quick round of 2 hours and 10 minutes, unable to generate enough points to retain his place.
Aldrich Potgieter, the sole rookie to make the playoffs, came agonizingly close but ultimately fell short of earning a BMW Championship spot despite a late birdie effort on the final hole. The South African’s rookie campaign will end here, as he narrowly missed the cutoff.
Updated FedEx Cup Standings and Outlook
As the FedEx Cup Playoffs progress, the top 50 cut not only serves as a critical playoff barrier but also grants players access to the elite field of the BMW Championship, where FedEx Cup points are significantly increased. This advantage can shape the remainder of the playoffs as well as the following season’s schedule.
Players who advanced beyond the top 50 cut now have the opportunity to accumulate points that could secure their spot among the top 30 in the FedEx Cup. Those leading the standings after next week will qualify for the Tour Championship, the season-ending event that crowns the FedEx Cup champion.
The developments at TPC Southwind highlight the fierce competition and fine margins that define the FedEx Cup race. While Justin Rose’s victory captured the headline, the battles around the playoff bubble determined the futures of many players, including the disappointment for Jordan Spieth and others who will now prepare for the next season without a postseason extension.