GOLF
Which players could miss the 2024 Tour Championship in the FedEx Cup playoffs?
Going into the final round of the 2024 BMW Championship, Justin Thomas is among the players who must perform to make the FedEx Cup top 30.
Only the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings will feature in the last regular season event on the 2024 PGA Tour, next week’s Tour Championship. As a result, the pressure is on for a number of players, including Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood and Jason Day, in the final round of the 2024 BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Denver on Sunday (25 August).
The top 30 was, of course, never going to stay the same throughout the current tournament in Colorado. As it stands after three rounds, four players have moved into the projected top 30, with four dropping out.
Which players have broken into the projected FedEx Cup top 30?
Third-round leader Keegan Bradley has jumped an incredible 46 places in the projected ranking, up to 4th from 50th. Fellow veteran Adam Scott, one shot behind in second spot, is up 32 spots from 41st to 9th, which means they are now almost certain to be in the field for the Tour Championship.
European Ryder Cup duo Alex Noren (45th to 22nd) and Fleetwood (31st to 29th) have also broken into the projected top 30, although their situations are more precarious. The Swede, however, is very well positioned at Castle Pines, tied for 3rd. The Englishman is currently in a tie for 9th, and needs a good final round to seal the deal.
2023 Open champion Brian Harman, tied for 18th in Denver, is 28th in the projected rankings and therefore in a similar position to Fleetwood.
Which players have dropped out of the projected FedEx Cup top 30?
Fellow major winners Thomas and Day are the biggest names who will miss out on the Tour Championship as it stands. The American has tumbled nine places down to 31st after three poor rounds at the BMW Championship, where he is currently tied for 45th out of 48 remaining players.
Day has fallen seven spots to 32nd, although he is at least trending back in the right direction. After a disastrous opening 78 (+6) in Colorado left him in last place, he has climbed his way back up the leaderboard to T37 after a 69 and a 71. Another solid final round could allow the Australian to sneak in for next week.
Others who still have work to do are recent PGA Tour winners Davis Thompson (35th) and Nick Dunlap (40th), while 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick (43rd) and fan favourite Max Homa (47th), who is badly out of form, will have to have sparkling rounds on Sunday to stand any chance of prolonging their seasons.