All of the explanation why the FedEx Cup means a lot this weekend

MEDINAH, In poor health — For a majority of the sphere on the BMW Championship, solely 36 holes stay of their 2018-19 season. That is the second of three FedEx Cup Playoff occasions, with solely 30 gamers advancing to subsequent week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta. Listed here are a couple of of the storylines this weekend at Medinah Nation Membership:

Tiger and the Tour Championship

Tiger Woods does not venture to complete within the prime 30 in FedEx factors after this weekend. Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports activities

It could be a disgrace if Tiger Woods couldn’t make it again to the positioning of certainly one of his biggest triumphs. His victory on the Tour Championship final September was his first in 5 years, the 80th of his PGA Tour profession, and was met with overwhelming pleasure. The scene with Woods strolling to the 18th at East Lake and 1000’s of followers swarming behind him is a spotlight reel for the ages.

However the Tour Championship is about numbers, not names. And never even final yr’s victory will get him again to Atlanta if he isn’t among the many prime 30 in FedEx factors on the finish of the BMW. And proper now, Woods is a great distance off the tempo, projected at 45th in factors — roughly six pictures out of the minimal place he would wish to advance.

“I will must have an ideal weekend and make a variety of birdies this week and put up some rounds within the mid-60s to provide myself an opportunity at it,” he mentioned.

It’s troublesome to check Woods giving up. He went to the placing inexperienced after his spherical Friday, with that a part of his recreation letting him down up to now. However his lack of follow and play is catching up with him on a course that’s taking part in simple. Woods, 43, has seemed good bodily, which maybe means greater than something. However he left a variety of factors on the market with a lightweight summer season, and lacking the weekend at Liberty Nationwide turned out to be an enormous blow. He wants so much to go proper over the following two days.

How about Hideki?

Hideki Matsuyama has been largely lacking in motion since he made a run on the PGA Championship in 2017. Since then he has no worldwide victories. He has dropped from fifth on this planet on the finish of that yr to 32nd. He has not been a contender at any of the main championships prior to now two years.

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However the Japanese star has discovered one thing this week, capturing scores of 69 and a course-record 63 and never making a bogey. He would transfer as much as No. 2 within the FedEx standings with a victory.

“I’m actually pleased with my place,” mentioned Matsuyama, who leads Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay by a stroke. “It has been a very long time since I have been in competition. Hopefully I can play properly. I have been struggling for some time this yr. Hopefully that may flip round and I am going to have a very good weekend.”

Meek Medinah

It’s kind of stunning to see the scores at Medinah’s No. three, which has a protracted historical past within the recreation, having hosted 5 main championships — three U.S. Opens and two PGAs. It additionally had the 2012 Ryder Cup.

However the gamers are making the 7,600-yard course look simple. Solely two gamers shot over par Thursday. The scoring common was the bottom of the yr on the PGA Tour. There have been 17 scores over par within the second spherical, however by 36 holes, 62 of the 69 gamers had been beneath par. A part of it is because of mushy situations from early-week rain. That may’t be helped.

Clearly, nonetheless, there’s a mandate by PGA Tour officers to err on the straightforward aspect. The FedEx Cup playoffs over time have turn into a grind. It is a variety of golf towards the top of the season, and the very last thing anyone needs is gamers griping about troublesome situations. So they have been allowed to go at it, and the outcomes are evident.

Perks, non-financial division

It is arduous to disregard the cash. The winner of the FedEx Cup will earn $15 million, with second place securing $5 million and payouts all over 150th within the ultimate standings. Attending to East Lake assures you a minimal of $395,000.

However there’s extra. Ending the season among the many prime 30 means an invite to the Masters in addition to exemptions into the U.S. Open and The Open. And all of it however assures a spot within the PGA Championship. So … spots within the main championships nearly locked up by Labor Day is a big incentive to these not already certified.

Gamers similar to Sung-jae Im, Harold Varner III, Andrew Putnam and Jason Kokrak are notably feeling the stress. They started the week hovering across the 30th place. Nothing is safe with a lot volatility, and not one of the 4 has ever performed within the Masters.

By two rounds, Im is tied for 49th and is projected outdoors of the highest 30 at 36th. Varner, who completed third final weekend, is close to the underside of the sphere after a 74 on Friday is projected to fall to 39th after beginning the week at 29th. Putnam shot 69 on Friday and is now projected 33rd, so he is on the cusp with an honest weekend. And Kokrak, who was tied for the first-round lead, shot 73 and now could be projected 31st. It will be a gut-wrenching weekend for them.

Brooks on prime

Brooks Koepka is properly off the lead on the BMW, however he is doing sufficient up to now to retain the highest spot within the FedEx Cup playoffs. That may imply he begins the Tour Championship subsequent week at 10 beneath par, 2 pictures forward of second place and 10 up on those that are 26th by 30th on the factors listing. There shall be no 72-hole winner, solely the FedEx Cup champion shall be determined. So preventing for place this weekend is extra than simply getting in; it is also about being nearer to the lead subsequent Thursday.

And do not forget …

Each the U.S. and Worldwide Presidents Cup groups decide their computerized qualifiers on the conclusion of the BMW Championship. Factors are value what they’re in a World Golf Championship occasion, and no one outdoors of the highest 12 on the U.S. can transfer into the highest eight computerized qualifiers. Finau is finest positioned to earn a spot on his personal. Gamers on the surface are Gary Woodland, Rickie Fowler and Woods, who’s 13th. The 4 at-large alternatives to fill out either side is not going to be made till the primary week of November. Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand is in place to earn a spot on the Worldwide crew — as he leads the Asian Tour occasion in Malaysia.