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The FedEx Cup playoffs continue at the BMW Championship over the next four days, with the top 70 in this year’s field to progress to the final 30 at next week’s FedEx Cup Championship in Atlanta.
Despite withdrawing from the second playoff event, Open champion Cameron Smith remains Australia’s best hope of winning the FedEx Cup’s $AU25.6 million at next week’s event at the East Lake Golf Club.
Smith, 28, is currently third on this year’s FedEx Cup standings and is assured a place in the final 30 to take to the tee next week. But his chances have likely taken a blow, with the highest ranked players on the standings given the best handicap.
Nonetheless, Smith is likely to start inside the top 10 and could start as high as third (his current standing) should those ranked fractionally lower than him struggle at Wilmington Country Club.
He isn’t the only Australian still in contention, although his compatriots have much to do to qualify for the Atlanta finale and will have to finish inside the top 10 to progress to the money-making FedEx Cup Championship. A top 10 finish will give someone a minimum of 300 FedEx points, with the winner snaring 2,000 points.
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Thanks to his strong tied-five finish at the FedEx St.Jude Championship, Adam Scott is the next best ranked Australian in 45th spot on 899 points. Crucially, the former Masters champion will start 155 points behind Corey Conners, who is in 30th spot on 1,054 points.
Cam Davis (51st, 826 points) and Lucas Herbert (54th, 796 points) will need strong top 10 finishes to likely finish inside the top 30. Given Herbert is 258 points behind Conners, he would have to finish at least 11th and rely on his Canadian rival to come last and take home 12 points.
The last Australian to take to the tee, Marc Leishman, will start 382 points behind Conners on 672 points and will be need a top six finish to stand a chance of progressing into the top 30. Nonetheless, a top three finish, which would see him snare a minimum of 760 points would likely see him move comfortably inside the top 30.
AUSTRALIANS
3. Cameron Smith: 2,547 points
45. Adam Scott: 899
51. Cam Davis: 826
54. Lucas Herbert: 796
70. Marc Leishman: 672
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Securing the highest possible ranking is essential because the top 30 players to progress to the FedEx Cup Championship based on ranking points will be handicapped, with the highest ranked player starting at 10-under – two shots clear of the second highest ranked player, who will start at eight-under.
Currently, Smith, who is third on the FedEx Cup rankings, would start the tournament at seven-under, while Sam Burns (fourth) and Tony Finau (fifth) would start at six and five-under respectively.
Those ranked between 6-10 will start at four-under, with those between 26-30 starting at even par.
READ MORE
‘Out the door’: Golf world not buying Smith story as Aussie cops huge blow in $107m race
‘This is insanity’: Rising star wins ‘wild’ playoff in epic $25m breakthrough as Aussie roars back
THE THREE PLAYOFF EVENTS
FedEx St. Jude Championship, TPC Southwind – Won by Will Zalatoris in playoff over Sepp Straka
BMW Championship, Wilmington Country Club, Wilmington, Delaware, Aug. 18-21.
Tour Championship, East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Aug. 25-28.
AUSTRALIAN TEE TIMES
Adam Scott: 12m
Marc Leishman: 2am
Lucas Herbert: 2:20am
Cam Davis: 2:40am
BIG NAMES TEE TIMES
Jordan Spieth: 1:15am
Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay: 1:25am
Sam Burns and Tony Finau: 1:40am
Jon Rahm: 4:20am
Rory McIlroy: 4:30am
Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris: 4:40am
TOP 10 ON FEDEX CUP RANKINGS
FedEx Cup Standings
1. Will Zalatoris: 3,680 points
2. Scottie Scheffler: 3,555
3. Cameron Smith: 2,547
4. Sam Burns: 2,428
5. Tony Finau: 2,260
6. Xander Schauffele: 2,174
7. Patrick Cantlay: 2,129
8. Sepp Straka: 2,109
9. Rory McIlroy: 2,103
10. Justin Thomas: 1,995
THE MONEY
The winner of the Tour Championship is declared the FedEx Cup champion and takes home the first-place prize of $AU25.6 million in bonus money. The increased bonus pool means that the top-10 finishers will bank massive seven-figure paydays and the 30th-place finisher will make $711,000.
There is a total of $AU106 million in bonus money up for grabs at East Lake, up from $AU85m last season.
BONUS MONEY PAYOUT (figures in AUS dollars)
1. $25,600,000
2. $9,200,000
3. $7,100,000
4. $5,690,000
5. $4,260,000
6. $3,550,000
7. $2,840,000
8. $2,130,000
9. $1,778,000
10. $1,423,000
30. $711,000
There is no longer a purse for the Tour Championship. The FedEx Cup Playoffs bonus money is the only money that players earn at East Lake. Also, FedEx Cup bonus money is not considered part of a golfer’s official earnings for the season.
THE FORMAT
The PGA Tour will continue to use the FedEx Cup Starting Strokes, which was introduced for the first time in 2019. It’s a staggered system whereby the golfer in the top position will start the Tour Championship at 10-under.
STARTING STROKES
No. 1: 10 under
No. 2: 8 under
No. 3: 7 under
No. 4: 6 under
No. 5: 5 under
Nos. 6-10: 4 under
Nos. 11-15: 3 under
Nos. 16-20: 2 under
Nos. 21-25: 1 under
Nos. 26-30: Even
This system was established to give players at the top of the points list the reward of a starting advantage in the Tour Championship.
FUN FACT: Only two two-timers
The only golfers who have won multiple FedEx Cup titles are Tiger Woods (2007 and 2009) and Rory McIlroy (2016 and 2019).
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