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With two weeks remaining in the 2025 PGA Tour regular season, scrambling is taking on greater importance—and we are not referring to the around-the-green statistical category. We are well beyond sweaty-palms time on the pressure meter.
This week’s 3M Open in Blaine, and the season-ending Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, represent the final opportunities for players to secure a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs reserved for the top 70 in the points standings. Ultimately, the goal is to make the opening playoff event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, with a chance to move into the top 50, which locks up exempt status for 2026 and paves the way for inclusion in all of next year’s big money signature events.
With 144 holes of golf remaining before the playoffs commence, here’s a look at some key players (with their place in the FedEx Cup standings) and what these next two weeks—and beyond—could mean to their ambitions and playing status.
Xander Schauffele (40)
We’re not likely to see the two-time major winner until the FedEx St. Jude, but we have to keep an eye on his number now and when he begins his playoff push. Slowed earlier this year by a rib injury, Schauffele has never missed the Tour Championship after winning it in his 2017 debut. He’ll need to move into the top 30 after the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs (BMW Championship) to keep the streak going. It would be a shame if he missed it this year now that the tour has abandoned the staggered-start format in favour of a straight-up contest. No one has played East Lake Golf Club the last eight years better than Schauffele.
Jordan Spieth (48)
Ben Jared
The popular Texan took advantage of several sponsor’s exemptions into signature events to bolster his bid to secure his card for 2026, though it should be noted that three of his four top-10 finishes this season came in regular full-field tournaments. Undoubtedly, the three-time major winner (and now three-time dad) would like to finish in the top 50 this year and skip the hassle (and scrutiny) of another season of special entry into the most lucrative events.
Wyndham Clark (51)
The first of a handful of names on this list competing at TPC Twin Cities, Clark has shown more life on the golf course than in the locker room of late and looks to further solidify his chances of advancing past the FedEx St. Jude to the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owens Mills.
Rickie Fowler (63)
Emilee Chinn
Like Spieth, Fowler has been a popular add-on at signature events in 2025. His one top-10 finish this year came at one of them, the Memorial Tournament, which earned him a place in the Open Championship, where he just finished 14th. That sure helped, though his position is precarious enough for top-70 playoff qualification that he is competing this week in Minnesota. His card, however, looks secure.
Keith Mitchell (70)
Yep, the man on the bubble. Seven top-25 finishes this year have only got him this far. He has no choice but to tee it up this week. And next week, too, if things go poorly at TPC Twin Cities.
Gary Woodland (78)
Ben Jared
Playing on the final year of his exemption from his 2019 U.S. Open and recovered from 2023 brain surgery, Woodland has shown flashes of his former self, tying for second at the Houston Open. A great finish in either of the next two weeks and he’s playoff bound.
Adam Scott (85)
That final-round 79 in the rain and slop at Oakmont in the U.S. Open hurt the amiable Australian several ways. He dropped all the way to T-12 when a finish in the top two or three would have bolstered his place in the FedEx Cup points standings and the World Ranking, while just a stroke better would have given him a top-10 finish and a berth in the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. Now he is battling to keep his card, let alone make the playoffs, and at 42nd in the world, could use some strong play to remain in the top 50 by year’s end to qualify for 2026’s majors.
Tom Kim (89)
Harry How
He was hot stuff in 2022-23 with an impressive Presidents Cup debut at Quail Hollow and three tour wins in that stretch, but he is without a victory since he defended his title in the now-defunct Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas. Yet another 3M entrant, Kim is exempt through 2026, but he needs World Ranking points. He’s 62nd and making the playoffs would sure help his pursuit of the 2026 majors after a poor showing this year.
Max Homa (102)
This guy is serious about reaching the playoffs and improving his current OWGR, making recent starts at the Rocket Classic, John Deere Classic and last week’s Barracuda Championship opposite the Open. He continues his march in Minnesota. With exempt status through 2028 his card is not an issue. That World Ranking (105) north of his FedEx Cup position most definitely is.
Matt Kuchar (122)
David Berding
We’re getting deep in the weeds here on the new priority ranking among exemption categories, but Kuchar is the best name on the board to illustrate the coming changes beyond the top 100. In previous seasons, conditional status was granted to players who finished Nos. 126-150 on the FedEx Cup points list, but that is now awarded to players 101-125. But there’s a catch. Starting next year, Korn Ferry Tour graduates, DP World Tour qualifiers and five players from Q-School will have priority before conditional players. Those who finish 101-110 will remain ahead of players with major medical extensions, and then finishers 111-125 follow. So not all conditional positions are the same. At 47, Kuchar would likely prefer to at least keep his conditional status and hold off on use of his one-time top-50 career money exemption. He currently ranks 13th with a little more than $61 million.
Camilo Villegas (158)
He’s easy to root for with all he has been through, and his win two years ago at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship was among the most popular in some time. But his exemption from that victory expires, so he needs to start finding some form—the sooner the better.
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