Sahith Theegala, Justin Rose just outside the top 30 for Tour Championship

It’s crunch time near the Windy City.

The second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs is the 2023 BMW Championship this week at Olympia Fields Country Club near Chicago, with the top 50 from last week’s field of 70 having advanced.

Sunday night, there will be but 30 golfers moving on to the 2023 Tour Championship, the season finale at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

All 50 players who reached the BMW earned a guaranteed spot in the 2024 signature events, but they’re also eyeing a huge potential payday next week, as the 2023 FedEx Cup champion will bag $18 million in bonus money.

Guys like Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are all in prime position to advance but there’s a few golfers right near the top-30 cutline who have to make sure they don’t slip, just as there are some who need to make a move in the upward direction.

Here’s a look at Nos. 26-30, trying to hold serve, and those in Nos. 31-35, who need a big week. The PGA Tour’s projected standings will be updated during play starting Thursday and finalized Sunday night for next week.

The Tour Championship will once again use the Starting Strokes format, with the golfer in the top slot starting at 10 under, the No. 2 guy will be at 8 under and so on. Golfers in the 26th through 30th slots next week will start at even par.

The winner takes home $18 million. Last place is good for $500,000.