Breaking down the FedEx Cup Playoffs format, the rule changes for 2023, how the fall schedule will work, a start date for the playoffs and more.
The future of the PGA Tour and professional golf at large are definitely at an inflection point that we have truly no idea where it will ultimately land us with the Tour, LIV Golf, the PIF and so on. But for now, we're heading into an all-new FedEx Cup Playoffs to end the 2022-23 season.
For years, we've seen the FedEx Cup Playoffs shift. It's gone from four events to three events in the past, the prize money has increased dramatically, even before the influx of money for the designated events this season, and we've also seen the format of the TOUR Championship change as well with the staggered scoring to begin the event with the leader and the FedEx Cup standings starting at 10-under.
And now there are even more changes coming. So let's unpack everything that's in store for us as we look at the schedule for the PGA Tour's postseason, the format for the 2023 playoffs, the prize, money, how rules have changed, and even looking into the new FedEx Cup Fall that will start after the TOUR Championship this year.
FedEx Cup Playoffs schedule: When do the FedEx Cup Playoffs start?
The 2023 FedEx Cup Playoffs start on Thursday, Aug. 10 with the beginning of the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis at TPC Southwind. That tournament will be held from Aug. 10-13. Let's take a look at the rest of the schedule for the Playoffs this year with the three tournaments that will crown the champion of golf's postseason.
- Aug. 10-13: FedEx St. Jude Championship (TPC Southwind – Memphis, TN)
- Aug. 17-20: BMW Championship (Olympia Fields Country Club – Olympia Fields, IL)
- Aug. 24-27: TOUR Championship (East Lake Golf Club – Atlanta, GA)
FedEx Cup Playoffs format 2023: How many players make the playoffs, each event?
Different than in previous years, only the top 70 players in the season-long standings for the 2022-23 season will make the FedEx Cup Playoffs this year. In the FedEx St. Jude Championship and BMW Championship tournaments, the points that are accrued toward the standings are quadrupled with the winner receiving 2,000 points rather than the normal 500 points for a win in the regular season.
After the FedEx St. Jude, the Top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings will then advance to the BMW Championship. From there, the Top 30 will then advance to the TOUR Championship. At East Lake for the finale, the Top 30 in the standings will then have what is referred to as FedEx Cup Starting Strokes to begin the tournament. No. 1 in the standings will begin the tournaments at 10-under, No. 2 will then be at 8-under, No. 3 at 7-under, No. 4 at 6-under, No. 5 at 5-under, Nos. 6-10 at 4-under, Nos. 11-15 at 3-under, Nos. 16-20 at 2-under, Nos. 21-25 at 1-under, and Nos. 26-30 at even-par.
FedEx Cup prize money: Payouts for playoffs, TOUR Championship
The Top 10 on the leaderboard at the TOUR Championship will get regular prize money for the tournament but will also get the additional FedEx Cup bonus money that comes out of a massive $75 million purse where the winner of the TOUR Championship receives $18 million. Here's a look at how the entire payout by position in the standings will look.
- $18 million
- $6.5 million
- $5 million
- $4 million
- $3 million
- $2.5 million
- $2 million
- $1.5 million
- $1.25 million
- $1 million
How have the FedEx Cup Playoffs rules changed for 2023?
Now we get into the big rule changes for the 2023 FedEx Cup Playoffs, the most notable of which is the number of players who make it into the PGA Tour's postseason. Previously, it was the Top 125 in the regular season standings who made it into the playoffs. That, as mentioned, has now been cut down to 70 players. Meanwhile, the second cut from the first playoff event into the second previously cut the field of players from 125 to 70, which has now changed to go from 70 to 50 players.
Meanwhile, the Top 50 in the final regular season standings will now also be eligible for the designated events while the Top 70 will retain their PGA Tour cards assuredly in the new 2024 calendar season on the PGA Tour.
But the other big change will be the new FedEx Cup Fall series of events, which will not be part of the 2024 season with a switch in golf's calendar, but will have effects on eligibility for the 2024 season, major championships and so on. Let's break that down now.
What is the new FedEx Cup Fall on the PGA Tour in 2023?
The new fall series on the PGA Tour will be a seven-event run in the fall after the TOUR Championship. The winners of those seven events will get exemptions into the January Sentry Tournament of Champions, THE PLAYERS Championship and any majors that exempt PGA Tour winners from the previous calendar year. They will also be exempt for two years on the PGA Tour.
Additionally, players outside of the Top 50 will continue to accrue FedEx Cup points to obtain priority ranking for the 2024 schedule that will allow them to play more events. Most importantly, the Top 10 players in the fall series who were not previously eligible for the 2024 designated events will then earn entry into those tournaments.