The brief offseason is officially over as the PGA Tour kicks off its new season in the picturesque Napa Valley, California, this week. The spotlight shines brightly once again on the world's elite golfers, although some notable names will be missing from the initial action.
Scottie Scheffler's Major Payday
Scottie Scheffler, fresh off his triumph at the Tour Championship, is a significant highlight. His victory brought not only prestige but also a whopping $25 million payday. However, Scheffler, alongside top-tier players like Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland, will not participate in the upcoming fall series events.
The FedEx Cup Fall Series
The FedEx Cup Fall series features eight crucial events, opening an opportunity for those who finished outside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings after the St. Jude Championship. These players now have a chance for redemption and improvement. Winners of the fall series events are handsomely rewarded with a two-year PGA Tour exemption and qualification for The Players Championship.
This year’s series includes notable tournaments such as the Procore Championship, the Sanderson Farms Championship, and the freshly minted Black Desert Championship in Utah. The fall series will then conclude with the RSM Classic from November 21-24.
Players to Watch
Despite the absence of some top-tier names, several well-known players will be in action. Wyndham Clark, Gary Woodland, Webb Simpson, Max Homa, Corey Conners, Harris English, Min Woo Lee, and Sahith Theegala headline the roster for the Procore Championship. This tournament is crucial for many, especially those hovering around the qualification cut-off mark for retaining their PGA Tour cards for 2025. Players like Zac Blair (No. 113), Kevin Tway (No. 122), and Sam Ryder (No. 125) find themselves in a pressure-packed situation, needing strong performances to secure their spots.
Current Standings and Upcoming Opportunities
As it stands, Tom Kim leads the FedEx Cup standings with 1,079 points, followed closely by Mackenzie Hughes with 1,048 points, and Maverick McNealy sitting in third place with 1,045 points. This tight race ensures that the fall series will be highly competitive, with Patrick Rodgers, Justin Rose, and Seamus Power also within striking distance, eager to make their move.
Importantly, the points accumulated during the 2024 regular season will carry over into the fall series, adding another layer of strategy for competitors. Players ranked Nos. 51-60 after the fall series will earn exemptions to two of the first three signature events of 2025, which include The Sentry, Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and the Genesis Invitational.
The structure and rewards of the fall series not only make it compelling for fans but provide critical opportunities for players to secure their future within the PGA Tour. With such stakes on the line, the upcoming tournaments promise to deliver drama, competition, and moments of brilliance worthy of the sport's top stage.