Jordan Spieth’s hopes of securing a place in the Ryder Cup squad suffered a serious blow after his performance at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis. The former world No. 1’s costly error on the final hole at TPC Southwind caused him to drop out of the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings, effectively ending his chances at the $10 million prize and jeopardizing his bid for next month’s Ryder Cup team.
Having failed to qualify for the BMW Championship, Spieth now faces a steep climb to convince captain Keegan Bradley to include him on the 12-man US squad for the trans-Atlantic event at Bethpage Black.
Key moments from Spieth’s final round and their impact on his position
Spieth entered the tournament aiming to improve his FedEx Cup ranking and revitalize his Ryder Cup prospects. Despite shooting two under par overall, his round was marred by a critical loss of focus at the 18th hole where his ball found the water, a mistake that cost him valuable points. Earlier in the round, he also misread a crucial birdie putt and struggled in windy conditions, both factors contributing to his inability to break into the top 50.
The 32-year-old acknowledged that Memphis was his last significant opportunity to impress the selection committee ahead of the Ryder Cup and expressed awareness of the challenge ahead.
“I know I’m on the outside looking in, the only way I can change that is just by focusing on setting a goal for [Memphis], stay on the first tee and hit my line,”
Spieth said.
“It’s a shot at a time, it’s a round at a time. I’m still relying on the captains and the assistants on thinking I’d be an additive addition to the team, so that’s my goal.”
Reflection on Spieth’s career struggles and Ryder Cup prospects
Spieth’s career highlights include three Major victories between 2015 and 2017, but the past years have seen him slip from his peak form. Reflecting on his circumstances, Spieth admitted that his path back into championship contention was uncertain, especially after starting the season late and coming into the Memphis event with few carryover points from 2024.
“I was coming in with almost no carryover points from [2024], which hurts and is unusual for me for a Ryder Cup year, and then obviously skipping the first month of the season I thought, ‘Boy, this would be the end goal,'”
he revealed on Sirius PGA TOUR Radio.
“And the idea that I have a chance for it is very cool. If you told me I have a chance for it in August, I’d be excited about it.”
Despite his predicament, Spieth remains determined to make a case for himself and suggested that Bradley might reconsider his own automatic spot to accommodate Spieth.
“Having said that, I’m certainly on the outside looking in right now, and I recognize that,”
he conceded.
“I keep trying to convince Keegan that it’d be a lot for him to have to play, too. So he probably should give up that pick, even if he’s a top 10 player and a top seven player in the world.”
“Just seems like way too much to have to do. So, I’m trying to open up all the opportunities I can, but I can also go take care of business myself.”
Rickie Fowler’s resurgence contrasts Spieth’s setback
While Spieth’s slip has left his FedEx Cup hopes hanging, Rickie Fowler took a significant leap by finishing 10-under overall at the Memphis tournament, vaulting from 64th to 48th place in the standings. Fowler’s finish guaranteed him a spot in the BMW Championship, set to take place at Caves Valley Golf Club on August 14.
Fowler, ranked No. 104 in the world, expressed relief at returning to a more secure position on the PGA Tour after struggling earlier in the season.
“It feels good,”
Fowler said.
“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 [the Memorial Tournament]. Didn’t play that well in any of them.”
“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.”
Bud Cauley’s inspiring comeback story amid a season of challenges
Another standout story from the weekend came from Bud Cauley, who overcame a serious automobile accident seven years ago that nearly ended his career. Starting 2025 on a medical extension, Cauley steadily climbed the FedEx Cup rankings, securing 46th place after Memphis and ensuring his participation in the sport’s biggest events in 2026.
Cauley described the emotional weight of the journey as he approached the tournament, reflecting on the pressures of meeting medical requirements while trying to return to competitive form.
“I was thinking about it this morning before I played, like how I felt today is kind of how I felt starting the year, trying to fulfill my medical and get in all these events,”
Cauley said.
“It was stressful today, but yeah, I’m happy to be in all those [signature] events.”
Looking ahead: What Spieth’s FedEx Cup standing means for Ryder Cup selection
Jordan Spieth’s failure to break into the BMW Championship field marks a significant turning point in his season, placing Ryder Cup selection in doubt given the limited opportunities to regain momentum. His struggle contrasts with rising players and those reclaiming status like Fowler and Cauley, underscoring the intensity of competition for the coveted spots on Team USA.
With less than a month before the Ryder Cup, Spieth’s focus must now shift to maximizing every remaining chance to demonstrate his value to the American team captains and assistants, while the door remains slightly ajar through captain’s picks and discretionary choices.
This situation highlights the delicate balance of form, fitness, and timing that dictates success on golf’s biggest stages and adds drama to the USA’s preparations ahead of the Bethpage Black contest against Europe.