The FedEx Cup is a season-long competition, in points, between professional golfers. As every other American sport competition, it culminates in the playoffs: a series of three events which determines the champion. This season marks the 19th edition of this stiff competition. Last year, the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama took home the trophy. He would be glad to repeat himself and replicate that triumph in 2025.
However, the title holder is not considered among the main contenders for the cup. According to bookmakers, at least. The PGA Tour odds on Oddschecker, found on the page just linked, show him as one of the main outsiders. Even last year, though, he was held in low esteem, but he won in the end. He may be able to surprise everyone again this year and reconfirm himself as champion.
The FedEx Cup format
All the top 70 players in FedEx Cup standings before the playoffs are eligible to participate in the closing events. The three events feature progressive cuts: the ST. Jude Championship is open to all 70 golfers; the BMW Championship is reserved for the top 50 and the main event, named TOUR Championship, counts only 30 spots. In order to win the cup, the champion must perform better than his competition over the course of four rounds at the TOUR Championship. All the players start at even par, in a 72-hole stroke-play event. The winner takes home 10 million dollars, the biggest slice of the$100 million FedEx Cup Bonus distribution total. The points are assigned during a whole season of events, starting in fall and ending in August.
The main contenders
Matsuyama is the one to watch, as it is always the case for the defending champion, but the other contenders won’t hand him the cup. Between his rivals, the most threatening seems to be Scottie Scheffler. The American recently won the Open, in astounding fashion, and proceeded to give everyone a lesson in humility, showing the media and fans how irrelevant fame and celebrity are for him. This is probably his secret to stay always focused and swing the way he does. At age 29, the unquestioned (at this point, there aren’t many doubts anymore) best golfer on the planet could put another trophy on his shelves and seems in the right shape to do it. But it’s not the only one that hungers for the cup and the prize, obviously.
We shouldn’t downplay the chances of Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy or Viktor Hovland. Rahm is slowly regaining his best form, after a first half of the year to forget, and would love to show the world what he’s capable of on a stage as big as the FedEx Cup playoffs. Cantlay has consistently been one of the best golfers in the PGA Tour over the last few seasons and won eight tournaments in the circuit. Given his talent, though, he could have won way more. He let go too many times in the final rounds of close competitions and this has to stop now that he’s matured. Hovland is growing and becoming better, year after year, but as he would frankly admit, he’s still not entirely pleased with his swing. Who knows, maybe the Norwegian will take the next step during the playoffs.
McIlroy is arguably the second most famous player in the world, behind Tiger Woods, as he signed movies, documentaries and video games (in the very same title that nowadays is called only PGA Tour. He is unanimously considered one of the best players ever and can still play with the elite. He’s been mostly inconsistent recently, though, and someone has already begun to call him washed up. The Northern Irishman is only 36, however, so he may still shine, maybe during the FedEx Cup playoffs.