Now that the 3M Open has wrapped up, just a few weeks remain until the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs start. For those who don’t remember, the top 125 golfers in the points race gain admission into the Northern Trust, which is the first of three playoff events.
The top 70 from there advance to the BMW Championship and finally, the top 30 get into the Tour Championship.
The winner of the FedEx Cup Playoffs earns $15 million.
So here are a few of the names who would be left out of the playoff fun, if the season ended today:
JHONATTAN VEGAS (currently 126):
Missing his last two cuts (Workday and 3M) has dropped Vegas just out of the playoff although a good showing this week at the Barracuda would push him back in.
Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela lines up a putt on the 16th green during the final round of The PLAYERS Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 17, 2019 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
JUSTIN ROSE (currently 127):
Rose has just one top 10 finish and two top 25 finishes this season, and he’s trending in the wrong direction — missing each of his last three cuts.
Justin Rose watches his drive off the 6th tee during the second round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands. (Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
SERGIO GARCIA (currently 130):
Outside of a T-5 at the RBC Heritage, Sergio doesn’t have much to draw from on the 2019-2020 schedule. His next best finish on Tour this season is a T-32, which he’s done twice (Travelers and Memorial).
Sergio Garcia putts on the 18th green during the final round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament at Harbour Town Golf Links. (Photo by Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)
STEWART CINK (currently 133):
Although Cink has made most cuts, his finishes haven’t been much to write home about, many in the 50s and 60s. The 3M Open was a perfect example, Cink was in good position with a 69 and 68 in the opening rounds, and while he didn’t falter on the weekend, his 70 and 69 pushed him down to a T-46.
Stewart Cink plays a shot during the first round of the Australian PGA Championships at Royal Pines on December 19, 2019, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
SI WOO KIM (currently 134):
Kim has made each of his last five cuts and is inching nearer to the playoffs, but a 72 on Sunday at the 3M dropped him down to T-46. He’ll be in the field at the Barracuda this week.
Si Woo Kim of South Korea hits his approach shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the 2019 Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio Oaks Course. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
DANNY WILLETT (currently 136):
The 2016 Masters champ finished T-4 at the Rocket Mortgage, but hasn’t made enough of his other 10 starts on this side of the pond.
Danny Willett lines up a putt on the tenth green during Day Three of the WGC HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club on November 02, 2019, in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
SHANE LOWRY (currently 149):
The Champion Golfer of the Year is currently 26th in the OWGR, but he hasn’t made enough of his nine appearances on Tour.
Shane Lowry reacts after the 18th hole during the final round of The 2019 Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Portrush Golf Club – Dunluce Course. (Photo by Ian Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)
BROOKS KOEPKA (currently No. 155):
Koepka has shown no signs that his knee is improving. He failed to make the cut at the 3M.
Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the seventh tee during the third round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. (Photo by Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)
BRANDEN GRACE (currently 156):
The South African has missed four straight cuts, including the 3M.
Branden Grace hits his tee shot on the 6th hole during the third round. (Photo by Steve Flynn/USA TODAY Sports)
JASON DUFNER (currently 168):
Dufner’s best finish of the season was last weekend at the 3M Open, and he finished T-32. He doesn’t seem poised to make a run at the playoff, but it’s not out of the question, either.
Jason Dufner lines up a putt on the tenth green during the second round of the RSM Classic on the Plantation course at Sea Island Golf Club on November 22, 2019, in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
JIMMY WALKER (currently 171):
The six-time PGA Tour champ has made just one cut since the return to golf, and the one he did make — last week’s Memorial — saw him shoot 81 and 77 on the weekend.
(Photo by Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports)
LUKE DONALD (currently 187):
Donald has always played on multiple continents, but he hasn’t done much in his nine Tour starts this season, outside of a T-11 at the Honda Classic.
Luke Donald hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. (Photo by Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)
WESLEY BRYAN (currently 198):
This is all about chances. Since returning from shoulder surgery, Bryan has looked strong, making all three cuts and finishing twice in the top 25.
Wesley Bryan warms up on the 10th tee during the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s charity golf event, a nine-hole exhibition at Detroit Golf Club. (Photo by Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)
CHRIS KIRK (currently 200):
Let’s not worry about this year for Chris Kirk. After taking time to deal with anxiety and alcohol issues, Kirk again looks like the guy who won four times on Tour. Here’s hoping he makes the playoff next time around.
Chris Kirk hits from the sand on the eighth hole during the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Thursday, July 2, 2020, at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
