Hideki Matsuyama, Cam Davis make top 50 for BMW Championship; other big names not so lucky

The 2023 edition of the FedEx Cup Playoffs started with the top 70 golfers in the standings, down from 125 from previous seasons.

After four days at steamy TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the field has now been reduced to 50 for the BMW Championship, the second of the three playoff events.

There were two golfers who made a big move up to get into the top 50.

Hideki Matsuyama started the week No. 57 and went backwards from there, finding himself at No. 61 when the St. Jude’s final round started Sunday. But he got hot late in a big way, posting five straight 3s after going birdie-par-birdie-eagle-birdie on Nos. 13 through 17. He closed with an up-and-down par for a 65 to leap up to No. 47, safely inside the top 50.

Cam Davis made the biggest move of the week, leapfrogging 17 spots from No. 62 to 45th, thanks to scores of 66-67-69-67 and a top-6 finish in Memphis.

Lucky No. 50 heading to the BMW, held outside Chicago in Olympia Fields, Illinois, is Patrick Rodgers. He only had one of his four rounds at the St. Jude in the 60s and he did drop seven spots in the playoffs standings but survived to advance.

Rodgers and the rest of the top 50 headed to the BMW have also secured spots in the 2024 signature events, making it a double whammy for those not advancing.

Here’s a closer look at some golfers who saw their PGA Tour seasons come to an end Sunday in Memphis.

Mackenzie Hughes tees off on the first hole during the second round of the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis. (Photo: Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)

Hughes missed the cut last week at the Wyndham Championship but got into the postseason in the No. 47 spot. Scores of 67-68-75-69, however, dropped him four spots to No. 51, ending his season.

Nick Hardy hits his tee shot on the first hole during the first round of the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind. (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

His first appearance in the playoffs ends after one week. Hardy went from the good side of the top 50 to the bad, starting in the 47th spot but ending up No. 52. Scores of 71-70 on the weekend sealed his fate and left him tied for 49th in the 70-man in Memphis.

Taylor Montgomery plays his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Montgomery, who was 53rd before Memphis and was 53rd after four days there, was probably done in by his opening-round 74. He shot 66-68-67 the three days after that but his playoff position stayed stagnant.

Matt Kuchar plays his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

When Adam Scott failed to make the playoffs, Kuchar became last man standing as the only golfer to make every FedEx Cup Playoffs. But Kuchar’s playoff run in 2023 will end after one week as he dropped five spots to No. 66 in the points.