4 Big Names Eliminated From FedEx Cup Playoffs Before BMW Championship

Four Prominent PGA Tour Players Eliminated from FedEx Cup Playoffs Before BMW Championship

The FedEx Cup Playoffs kicked off with a high level of drama last week, highlighted by Hideki Matsuyama’s narrow victory at the FedEx St Jude Championship. Matsuyama, who secured a two-shot win, nearly squandered a commanding five-stroke lead at TPC Southwind. While the battle for the top spot drew considerable attention, another significant contest was unfolding—one involving 70 players competing to advance to the next stage of the playoffs. Only the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings could proceed to the BMW Championship, marking a critical juncture in the playoffs.

The cut to the top 50 was fiercely contested, with numerous players fluctuating dramatically in the standings as the final holes of the tournament unfolded. Notably, Nick Dunlap’s fortunes shifted dramatically by 25 positions within a single back nine stretch on Sunday. As the competition concluded, some notable names found their FedEx Cup campaigns ending prematurely.

Below is a closer look at four prominent PGA Tour players who failed to advance past the first round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and will not participate in the BMW Championship or the subsequent Tour Championship:

Jordan Spieth (67th)

Jordan Spieth, a three-time Major champion, endured a challenging 2024 season, culminating in his failure to progress past the initial playoff stage. Spieth’s season was marked by inconsistency, with only three top-10 finishes and a best result of third place at The Sentry. His season was also marred by struggles, including seven missed cuts across 22 starts. Spieth’s campaign has been overshadowed by a persistent wrist issue, which he has revealed will necessitate surgery. He plans to undergo the procedure as soon as possible and hopes to return to competitive play either later in the year or at the start of 2025.

Min Woo Lee (60th)

Min Woo Lee, a fan favorite, fell short of making the cut to the BMW Championship despite a season that included notable successes. The Australian golfer finished as the runner-up in two PGA Tour events—the Cognizant Classic and the Rocket Mortgage Classic—and secured eight top-25 finishes out of 17 appearances. However, Lee’s performance at TPC Southwind, where he finished tied for 22nd, left him 173 points behind the 50th spot. Consequently, he ended the season ranked 60th. Lee is expected to compete in several DP World Tour events before the end of the year, extending his time on the tour before taking a break.

Justin Rose (55th)

Justin Rose, the English veteran, narrowly missed out on the BMW Championship, finishing 75 points short of advancing. His season was characterized by a series of ups and downs, including a mix of standout performances and disappointing results. Rose’s results in Major tournaments mirrored his overall PGA Tour season, with a missed cut at The Masters and the U.S. Open, a sixth-place finish at the PGA Championship, and a close second-place finish at The Open. Beyond the Majors, Rose managed only one top-10 finish and missed five cuts in 19 total appearances. He will now shift his focus to the remainder of the DP World Tour season.

Tom Kim (51st)

Tom Kim’s FedEx Cup journey came to an agonizingly close end as he missed the cut to the BMW Championship by just 17 points. Kim’s final position was particularly disappointing given his strong performances earlier in the season, including a near-win against his friend Scottie Scheffler at the Memorial Tournament, which ended in a playoff loss. Throughout the 2024 season, Kim demonstrated consistency with only four missed cuts out of 23 starts but struggled to secure more top-10 finishes, managing only one additional top-10 result. His overall season was marked by a series of average performances, leading to his placement just outside the top 50.

 

As the playoffs advance to the BMW Championship, the absence of these four notable players—Spieth, Lee, Rose, and Kim—will be felt. Their departure highlights the unpredictable nature of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, where even accomplished and talented golfers can face unexpected exits. The next stage at Castle Pines will feature the remaining 50 players vying for a spot in the Tour Championship, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the season.