PGA Tour players on the FedEx Cup Playoffs bubble heading into 3M Open

July 27, 2023

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BLAINE, Minn. — There are only two regular season events left in the 2022-23 PGA Tour season, meaning the FedEx Cup Playoffs are right around the corner.

However, this year, they’re going to be unlike ever before. Only 70 players will qualify for the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, unlike the 125 who have in year’s past. From there, the top 50 make it to the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields in Illinois, and then the top 30 advance to East Lake in Atlanta for the Tour Championship.

The change in amount of players who qualify for the playoffs means some big names joined the field of this week’s 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota, at TPC Twin Cities.

At the top end, Jon Rahm is No. 1 in the FEC standings, with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler right behind. Rory McIlroy won his third FedEx Cup last year.

Here’s a closer look at some interesting names in the FedEx Cup points standings, including some who have work to do to stay in the top 70 and others who need to make a push to make it to Memphis.

We’ll start with K.H. Lee, who sits in the final spot at No. 70 heading into the 3M Open. He’s in the field this week, playing with Cameron Young and Sahith Theegala the first two rounds.

The two-time Tour winner has three top 10s this season and made 17 cuts in 25 starts, but five of those missed cuts have come in the last six events. Lee needs to find a way to flip the script.

Lee is in the playoffs by a little more than six points, meaning a solid finish this week could be enough to punch his ticket to Memphis.

K. H. Lee hits his tee shot on six during the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Up next is the player on the outside looking in. David Lingmerth sits 71st in the standings, however, he is not in the field in Minnesota, meaning he’ll have to play in next week’s Wyndham Championship in North Carolina if he wants to make the playoffs.

In 27 starts this year, Lingmerth has made only 11 cuts and had to withdraw from one tournament, as well. He did tie for third two weeks ago at the Genesis Scottish Open, helping him get closer to being inside the bubble.

However, more work is left for him to secure his spot.

David Lingmerth tees off on hole 8 during the third round of The Players Championship golf tournament Saturday, March 11, 2023 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

The biggest name on the outside looking in is no other than the two-time major champion, Justin Thomas.

His struggles this year have been well documented. He wasn’t in the field originally at the 3M Open or Wyndham Championship but is expected to play both to not only make a FedEx Cup Playoff push but also audition for a captain’s pick on the Ryder Cup team.

The 15-time Tour winner has made 13 of his 18 cuts, but he missed the cut in every major but the PGA Championship. He has finished in the top 10 only three times. He sits 75th in the standings.

J.T. needs a big week in Minnesota. Only time will tell.

Justin Thomas of the United States gestures after teeing off on the 4th hole on Day Two of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 21, 2023 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Shane Lowry is another big name on the outside looking in at 73rd in the standings, a little more than 10 points outside of the top 70.

Lowry has missed only three cuts this year, but he has played in 17 events, a much lower number than many other PGA Tour pros. That’s partially due to his events he plays on the DP World Tour and overseas.

Lowry is not in the field in Minnesota, meaning if he wants to make the playoffs, he has to play well in North Carolina next week. Before a MC at the Open Championship, he had finished in the top 25 in five of six starts.

Shane Lowry acknowledges the crowd on the seventh green during the first round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Liverpool. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

PGA Tour rookie Ben Griffin sits in a good spot with two events to go. He’s 68th in the standings, but that doesn’t guarantee him a playoff spot.

He’s in the field in Minnesota and can almost guarantee his place in the field at TPC Southwind with a strong finish this week. However, if he plays poorly, there’s a chance he could be on the outside looking in come next week.

Griffin has made the cut in 18 of his 28 events and has one top 10, coming courtesy of a T-3 at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Ben Griffin plays his shot from the sixth tee during the second round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 14, 2023 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

The Aussie Adam Scott sits 80th in the standings, and he’s not in the field at TPC Twin Cities. Last year, he made a late push to not only get into the field at the BMW Championship but also the Tour Championship.

Scott will need some similar heroics to just make the playoffs this year. He has made the cut in all but two of his 16 events, his best finish being a T-5 at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Adam Scott of Australia tees off on the 4th hole on Day One of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 20, 2023 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Another name on the inside of the cutline is Sam Ryder, who’s 69th. He has three top-10 finishes in his 26 starts, but he has also missed the cut in half of them. He has missed seven of the last 10 cuts, all of those coming after a T-3 at the Valero Texas Open.

Ryder is in the field this week, playing with Griffin and Doug Ghim in the first two rounds. He needs to find his form and have a couple of solid finishes the next two weeks to solidify his spot in Memphis.

Sam Ryder plays his tee shot on the 10th hole during round one of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic

Frankly, Billy Horschel has had a season to forget.

He opened up in his title defense at the Memorial about his struggles and trying to find his game. However, the seven-time Tour winner has missed nine of 20 cuts, his best finish being T-7 in the CJ Cup back in October.

Horschel sits 119th in the standings, which is nearly 300 points behind the cut off. He will need a couple stellar weeks to make the playoffs, or the 2014 FedEx Cup champion is going to miss the postseason.

Billy Horschel of the United States gestures after teeing off on the 4th hole on Day Two of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 21, 2023 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Cameron Champ is a three-time PGA Tour winner, but he has had a season to forget.

He has missed the cut in 15 of his 22 starts. His best finish was eighth at the Zozo in October.

He’s in the field this week in Minnesota, where he won in 2021. His wife also gave birth this week to the couple’s first child, with Champ flying into Minneapolis on Wednesday evening before his tee time Thursday morning.

Possibly the major life change and return to a place where he has won can be a turnaround he needs. Champ sits 136th in the standings.

Cameron Champ lines up a putt on the 9th hole during the third round of the John Deere Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

The United States Ryder Cup captain is 150th in the FedEx Cup standings with two events to go, and he’s not in the field at TPC Twin Cities.

The 12-time Tour winner would essentially need a win at the Wyndham Championship to have a chance to make the playoffs.

Zach Johnson reacts to missing a birdie putt on his final hole during the second round of the John Deere Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports