How Does the FedEx Cup Work?

How the FedEx Cup Works (2025 Edition)

The FedEx Cup is the PGA Tour’s season-long race that ends with the dramatic FedEx Cup Playoffs. It’s golf’s version of a playoff system, combining a full year of points accumulation with a high-stakes three-tournament finale.

Embed from Getty Images

Here’s everything you need to know about how it works in 2025—from the first event of the season all the way to the Tour Championship at East Lake.

The Regular Season: How Players Earn Points

The road to the FedEx Cup Playoffs starts as soon as the PGA Tour season begins. Every tournament on the schedule offers FedEx Cup points. Players collect points based on where they finish, with higher finishes earning more points.

• Standard PGA Tour events: Winners typically earn 500 points, with points distributed down the leaderboard to players who make the cut.
• Signature events (limited-field, higher prestige): Offer more points, usually around 700 for the winner.
• Major Championships: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship award 750 points to the winner.
• THE PLAYERS Championship: Also treated like a major, awarding 750 points to the winner.

This means that strong play in big events can make a huge difference in the standings. Consistency matters, too—a season full of top-10 finishes can carry just as much weight as one or two big wins.

Season Rankings and Playoff Qualification

As the season progresses, points are tallied into the FedEx Cup standings. At the end of the regular season, the top 70 players on the list qualify for the playoffs. Everyone else is done for the year.

Embed from Getty Images

Finishing in the top 70 not only gets you into the playoffs but often guarantees exemptions into key events the following season, which is a huge incentive beyond just the playoffs themselves.

The Playoffs: Three Events, Shrinking Field

The playoffs are structured to gradually trim the field:

• FedEx St. Jude Championship: The top 70 players compete, no cut, all four rounds count.
• BMW Championship: The top 50 advance to this event, again with no cut.
• Tour Championship: The top 30 players head to East Lake in Atlanta for the finale.

At each stage, the intensity ramps up—players are not just chasing prize money but also fighting for their season to continue.

Playoff Points Are Supercharged

Points during the playoffs are worth far more than regular-season points. A playoff win offers quadruple points compared to a standard PGA Tour event. That’s why you’ll often see players make huge leaps in the standings with a timely win in August.

TOUR Championship: The Big Change

Here’s the headline for 2025: the staggered starting strokes system is gone. In the past, players began the Tour Championship with built-in advantages based on their playoff rank—for example, the No. 1 seed starting at -10 under par.

Now, everyone starts even. It’s a true, level playing field: four rounds, lowest score wins both the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup title.

Embed from Getty Images

What’s at Stake

The money in the FedEx Cup is massive. The total bonus pool sits at $100 million, with payouts sprinkled throughout the playoffs and the largest share going to the Tour Championship. Every player who reaches East Lake earns a hefty check, with the overall FedEx Cup champion pocketing an extra $10 million on top of their tournament winnings.

Quick Summary

• Regular season: Players earn FedEx Cup points in every event. Big events = more points.
• Top 70 qualify for playoffs: Season-long performance determines who gets in.
• Playoffs: Three events (70 → 50 → 30 players). No cuts, big points on the line.
• Tour Championship: Top 30 start at even par. Four rounds. Winner takes all—the tournament and the FedEx Cup.
• Bonus money: $100 million pool, with $10 million to the champion.

Final Thoughts

The FedEx Cup is designed to reward season-long consistency while still leaving room for late drama. The new 2025 format makes the finish even more exciting: 30 players, no head starts, just pure golf over 72 holes to decide it all. For fans, that means the playoffs are easier to follow and more thrilling than ever.