The 2024 PGA Tour postseason has officially begun, marking the third consecutive year that the illustrious FedEx Cup Playoffs kick off at TPC Southwind. This year's St. Jude Championship is set to feature the top 70 players from the regular season, each vying for a coveted spot as the field narrows to just 50 players heading into the BMW Championship.
The Battle for the Top 50
For many top-tier golfers, the stakes couldn't be higher. Securing a finish inside the top 50 by the week's end not only assures their continuation in the playoffs but also guarantees entry into every PGA Tour signature event for the 2025 season. Among those on the knife-edge are Jordan Spieth, Min Woo Lee, Justin Rose, Nick Dunlap, and Nick Taylor, all of whom find themselves teetering on the brink of elimination.
Particular attention is on Viktor Hovland, who currently sits at No. 57 in the standings. Despite a strong showing with a third-place finish at the PGA Championship earlier this year, Hovland faces significant challenges. He ranks near the bottom in stats on approach and around the green, positioned 175th out of 176 players. His performance this week will be crucial if he hopes to advance.
Scottie Scheffler’s Dominance
At the other end of the spectrum is Scottie Scheffler, who seeks his eighth victory of the year. Scheffler aims to enter the Tour Championship with a commanding two-stroke lead for the third consecutive season. His performance this year has been nothing short of remarkable, with a trio of top-flight competitors—Scheffler himself, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy—amassing ten PGA Tour victories in 2024 alone.
Despite this, several high-profile golfers including Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala, Sungjae Im, Justin Thomas, and Brian Harman find themselves with impressive standings but no victories to their names this year. All eight sit comfortably inside the top 20 of the FedEx Cup standings, yet they've been unable to clinch a win in 2024.
Key Players and Course Details
TPC Southwind, stretching over 7,243 yards and playing to a par of 70, is known to present a formidable challenge. The St. Jude Championship, scheduled from August 15-18, boasts a lucrative purse of $20 million, attracting some of the game's best talents.
Xander Schauffele arrives with an enviable record, having avoided finishes outside the top 25 since the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. However, his historical performance at TPC Southwind has been less consistent, with only one top 20 finish, dating back to 2020.
Rory McIlroy, on the other hand, has a solid track record at TPC Southwind, with four top-12 finishes in seven appearances, including a T3 finish last year. He's also in stellar form, with four top-five results in his last six tournaments. Collin Morikawa, another prominent name, has secured three top 20s in four appearances at TPC Southwind, showcasing his compatibility with the course.
Pressure Ramps Up
Patrick Cantlay enters the St. Jude Championship with three consecutive top-25 finishes. His recent performances include notable top-five results at the U.S. Open and the Travelers Championship, making him one to watch as the pressure intensifies this week.
Elsewhere, Scottie Scheffler’s continued excellence and Viktor Hovland's efforts to overcome his current positioning add layers of intrigue to an already compelling playoff opener. With so much at stake, TPC Southwind promises to be the stage where the contenders and pretenders of the 2024 PGA Tour season are definitively separated.
As the St. Jude Championship unfolds, fans and analysts alike will be glued to the action, eager to see who rises to the occasion and who falters under the immense pressure. With top talents and high tension, this year's kickoff promises unforgettable moments and career-defining performances.