FedEx Cup
The FedEx Cup is the golf championship of the PGA Tour that was newly introduced in 2007 . For the first time, golf is being played in the play-off style. The lavish event is sponsored by FedEx . With $ 15 million for the winner, the prize money is the highest that can be won in golf. A total of US $ 70 million in prize money is paid out annually through the FedEx Cup.
In the first two years, rule changes were made to improve the negative experiences of the previous year. Initial changes in February 2008 resulted in more players having the chance to improve during the playoffs. In addition, the resetting of playoff points has been tightened and more points are awarded to playoff participants. This is kind of a disadvantage for those players who skip a playoff tournament. Changes were made in November 2008 to ensure that the FedEx Cup cannot be won before the final tournament. The reason for this was that Vijay Singh had already collected so many points at the FedEx Cup 2008 after three playoff tournaments that he was effectively the winner and only had to play and complete the final.
Qualification for the playoffs
The following criteria have been in effect since the 2009 season. From January to the end of August, every player on the PGA Tour can collect points at every tournament played. The points awarded for a win vary depending on the quality of the tournament between 250 and 600 points, with wins in normal tournaments bringing in 500 points. The remaining players will receive fewer points for completing a tournament based on their final position.
The goal is to be among the top 125 players to play the final playoff tournaments. Only full-time players on the PGA Tour can earn points. Players who join the tour during the season will receive points from the first tournament after they officially join the tour.
After the last tournament of the regular season, the top 125 take part in the playoff tournaments. A win in one of the playoff tournaments is worth 2,000 points - four times a win during the regular season. The points earned during the playoffs are added to those earned during the regular season. In addition, the field of players will be reduced as the playoffs progress.
After the last playoff tournament, the top 30 play the final. The points are reset so that the leader receives 2,500 points, the second 2,250 up to the last, who receives 210 points. The aim of this is for everyone in the top 30 to have the chance to win the FedEx Cup, with the top 5 players also getting the FedEx Cup if they win the Tour Championship.
Playoff tournaments
| competition | player | Cut |
|---|---|---|
| The Northern Trust | Top 125 on points (according to Wyndham Championship) |
Cut the top 70 players (plus divided players) after 36 holes |
| BMW Championship | Top 70 by points (according to The Northern Trust) |
not applicable |
| THE TOUR Championship | Top 30 on points (after the BMW Championship) |
Once the 125 players have been determined, they can no longer be changed. Any qualified player can skip a tournament before the final, the TOUR Championship. However, he risks being eliminated from the playoffs due to a lack of points. Only the top 30 are eligible to play in THE TOUR Championship. If a player in the top 30 fails to play in the final, he will not be replaced.
Playoff prize money
The player with the highest number of points after the Tour Championship wins the FedEx Cup and with it the 10 million US dollar prize money. The 2nd receives 3 million, 3rd 2 million, 4th 1.5 million, 5.1 million and so on. Places 126 to 150 are each rewarded with US $ 32,000. Unlike in normal tournaments, the prize money does not go to the players in the form of cash. It is paid into a pension fund. It is only paid out after the end of the career, but at the earliest when the player is 45 years of age. This approach met with heavy criticism from the players when it was introduced.
FedEx Cup winner
| year | player | country | Points | Tournaments | Tournament victories | Top 5 successes | Regular seasonal placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Tiger Woods |
 United States
|
123.033 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2008 | Vijay Singh |
 Fiji
|
125.101 | 4th | 2 | 2 | 7th |
| 2009 | Tiger Woods |
United States
|
4,000 | 4th | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010 | Jim Furyk |
United States
|
2,980 | 4th | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2011 | Bill Haas |
United States
|
2,760 | 4th | 1 | 1 | 15th |
| 2012 | Brandt Snedeker |
United States
|
4,100 | 4th | 1 | 3 | 19th |
| 2013 | Henrik Stenson |
 Sweden
|
4,750 | 4th | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 2014 | Billy Horschel |
United States
|
4,750 | 4th | 2 | 3 | 69 |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth |
United States
|
3,800 | 4th | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 | Rory McIlroy |
 Northern Ireland
|
3,120 | 4th | 2 | 2 | 36 |
| 2017 | Justin Thomas |
United States
|
3,000 | 4th | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | Justin Rose |
 England
|
2.260 | 4th | 0 | 3 | 4th |
Regular Season Leader (Points Before Playoffs)
| year | player | country | Points | Tournaments | Ahead of the runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Tiger Woods |
United States
|
30,574 | 13 | 11,445 |
| 2008 | Tiger Woods |
United States
|
22,695 | 6th | 1,817 |
| 2009 | Tiger Woods |
United States
|
3,431 | 13 | 1,276 |
| 2010 | Ernie Els |
 South Africa
|
1,846 | 16 | 149 |
| 2011 | Nick Watney |
United States
|
1,906 | 18th | 41 |
| 2012 | Tiger Woods |
United States
|
2,269 | 15th | 159 |
| 2013 | Tiger Woods |
United States
|
3,059 | 12 | 766 |
| 2014 | Rory McIlroy |
Northern Ireland
|
2,582 | 13 | 89 |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth |
United States
|
4.169 | 21st | 1,710 |
Web links
(all english)
swell
- ↑ Andreas Lampert: FedEx Cup: The ten million prize money will only be available later. In: welt.de . August 22, 2007, accessed October 7, 2018 .