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

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

Tiger and the Tour Championship

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It could be a disgrace if Tiger Woods couldn’t make it again to the positioning of considered 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 hundreds followers swarming behind him is a spotlight reel for the ages.

However the Tour Championship is about numbers, not names. And never even final 12 months’s victory will get him again to Atlanta if he isn’t among the many high 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 photographs out of the minimal place he would wish to advance.

“I’ll need to have an awesome weekend and make a whole lot of birdies this week and submit some rounds within the mid-60s to provide myself an opportunity at it,” he stated.

It’s troublesome to check Woods giving up. He went to the placing inexperienced after his spherical on Friday, with that a part of his recreation letting him down to this point. However his lack of observe and play is catching up with him on a course that’s enjoying simple. Woods has seemed good bodily, which maybe means greater than something. However he left a whole lot of factors on the market with a lightweight summer time, and lacking the weekend at Liberty Nationwide turned out to be an enormous blow. He wants quite a bit 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 is dropped from fifth on this planet on the finish of that 12 months to 32nd. He isn’t been a contender at any of the foremost championships within the final 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 proud of my place,” stated Matsuyama, who leads Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay by a stroke. “It has been a very long time since I have been in rivalry. Hopefully I can play effectively. I have been struggling for some time this 12 months. Hopefully that may flip round and I will have a superb weekend.”

Meek Medinah

It is a bit stunning to see the scores at Medinah’s No. three, which has an extended 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. Simply two gamers shot over par on Thursday. The scoring common was the bottom of the 12 months on the PGA Tour. There have been 17 scores over par within the second spherical, however by means of 36 holes 62 of the 69 gamers below par. A part of it is because of gentle circumstances from early-week rain. That may’t be helped.

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

Perks, Non-Monetary Division

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

However there’s extra. Ending the season among the many high 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 just about locked up by Labor Day is a big incentive to these not already certified.

Gamers akin to Sungjae Im, Harold Varner, Andrew Putnam and Jason Kokrak are significantly feeling the stress. They started the week hovering round 30th place. Nothing is safe with a lot volatility, and not one of the 4 has ever performed within the Masters.

By way of two rounds, Im is tied for 49th and is projected outdoors of the highest 30 at 36th. Varner, who completed third final week, is close to the underside of the sector 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 effectively off the lead on the BMW, however he is doing sufficient to this point to retain the highest spot within the FedEx Cup playoffs. That may imply he begins the Tour Championship subsequent week at 10 below par, 2 photographs forward of second place and 10 up on those that are 26th by means of 30th on the factors listing. There will probably be no 72-hole winner, solely the FedEx Cup champion will probably 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 automated qualifiers on the conclusion of the BMW Championship. Factors are price 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 automated qualifiers. Tony Finau is greatest positioned to earn a spot on his personal. Gamers on the skin are Gary Woodland, Rickie Fowler and Woods, who’s 13th. The 4 at-large picks to fill out all sides is not going to be made till the primary week of November. Jazz Janewattananound of Thailand is in place to earn a spot on the Worldwide group – as he leads the Asian Tour occasion in Malaysia.