FedExCup Playoffs Begin Without Rory McIlroy

The 2025 FedExCup Playoffs have started with the St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind, featuring the top 70 players but without world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who opted out of this week's event, and Tiger Woods, another past multi-time winner. Scottie Scheffler, after a season of four victories, is seeking to become the first player to win back-to-back FedExCup titles. The playoffs will cut the field to 50 players for the BMW Championship and then to 30 for the Tour Championship. Rookie Aldrich Potgieter is the only newcomer to qualify, while Chris Kirk secured his playoff spot with a strong finish at the Wyndham Championship. Cameron Young enters with momentum from his first PGA TOUR win, and Hideki Matsuyama aims to match Daniel Berger's feat of back-to-back wins at TPC Southwind. The opening event will see 19 players eliminated, intensifying the postseason drama.