FedEx Cup
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| FedEx Cup | |
|---|---|
| Name | FedEx Cup |
| Sport | Golf |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Country | United States |
| Tour | PGA Tour |
FedEx Cup
The FedEx Cup is a season-long points competition on the PGA Tour culminating in a playoff series and a bonus pool. Conceived to link marquee events such as the The Players Championship, Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, and U.S. Open with a year-end climax, the series reshaped scheduling and incentives for professional golfers. Sponsors, television partners such as ESPN and NBC Sports, and stakeholders including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Dustin Johnson played roles in popularizing the competition.
History
The concept originated amid efforts by the PGA Tour leadership including Tim Finchem and later Jay Monahan to modernize professional golf after the rise of the European Tour and international events like the Race to Dubai. Early seasons featured playoff venues such as East Lake Golf Club, TPC Boston, Firestone Country Club, and the BMW Championship rotation. The format evolved through interactions with global tournaments like the Ryder Cup and the President's Cup, and was influenced by personalities including Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and administrators from FedEx and broadcast executives from CBS Sports. Changes reflected responses to audience metrics from partners such as GOLF Channel and sponsors including Rolex and Bridgestone Golf.
Format and Point System
The points framework has been revised multiple times, with inputs from tournament directors of events like The Players Championship and major organizers such as the USGA and R&A. Initially tied to finishing positions across roughly 36 regular-season PGA Tour events including signature stops like The Memorial Tournament and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the system allocated points to winners and top finishers in tournaments including World Golf Championships and the four majors: Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, PGA Championship. Playoff points were upweighted for events such as the Tour Championship and the BMW Championship. The season-ending adjustment known as the "starting strokes" or "staggered start" at the Tour Championship was introduced to ensure that the highest-ranked player entering the finale could secure the overall title with a victory.
Qualification and Eligibility
Eligibility hinges on accumulating points across official PGA Tour events, with exemptions available via victories at tournaments like The Players Championship, The Memorial Tournament, and WM Phoenix Open. International players from the European Tour, DP World Tour, and champions from tournaments such as the Scottish Open or Ryder Cup participants like Henrik Stenson and Sergio García have qualified historically through nonmember point conversions and special temporary membership. Players suspended or sanctioned by bodies such as the United States Anti-Doping Agency or those who enter via medical exemptions follow protocols overseen by the PGA Tour policy committees.
Playoffs and Tournament Structure
The playoff series traditionally consisted of multiple events culminating at the Tour Championship in Atlanta at East Lake Golf Club, with preceding playoff stops including the Northern Trust and the BMW Championship. The structure mirrors bracketed postseason formats used by leagues such as the NFL and NBA in its elimination-style reduction of the field, blending stroke-play tournaments like the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play influence. The season-end finale adopted a stroke-play aggregate with a modified starting score system, a change debated in parallel with formats used in events such as the Olympic Games golf competition.
Prize Money and Bonuses
The FedEx Cup awards one of professional golf's largest bonus pools, administered by sponsor FedEx in coordination with the PGA Tour finance office and entities like IMG for player relations. Winners receive significant financial awards and exemptions into events including the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the Masters Tournament. The distribution affects player priorities for scheduling alongside endorsement deals with companies such as Titleist, Nike, and TaylorMade, and has implications for career earnings lists alongside leaders like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Notable Winners and Records
Champions include major names such as Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, and Billy Horschel, who have set records for points accumulation, season wins, and playoff performance. Individual season achievements intersect with majors and World Golf Championships, producing historical seasons comparable to performances in the PGA Championship or The Open Championship. Records for youngest winners, consecutive top finishes, and largest margins at playoff events are tracked by the PGA Tour statistics team and reflected in media coverage by outlets like Golf Digest and ESPN.
Impact on Professional Golf and Criticism
The competition altered tournament priorities for players such as Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth, influenced the scheduling of events like The Players Championship and regional tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour, and shaped negotiation dynamics with broadcasters including CBS Sports and NBC Sports. Critics from publications like Sports Illustrated and observers including former players have raised concerns about commercial influence, the fairness of the staggered start at the Tour Championship, and effects on international tours such as the DP World Tour. Supporters argue it increased fan engagement, viewership metrics, and sponsor investment, paralleling postseason-driven formats used by professional leagues like the NFL and NBA.