FedEx Cup Fall 2025: Ryder Cup Impact, Spieth’s Absence.

The wrap-up of the Fall portion of the FedEx Cup schedule consistently has a peculiar feel. Golfers make their way to St. Simon’s Island, Georgia — a serene coastal spot in the southern part of the state — for the concluding tournament of the year with positive attitudes and significant pressure.

This blend creates an odd dynamic. The calm atmosphere of the region contrasts with the anxiety felt by those competing — leading up to the final round, when everyone involved understands the exact scenario required for a player to progress to a higher level on the PGA Tour or hold onto their existing position. 

That should happen, at least. However, this outcome isn’t always achieved, which is one of the recurring difficulties encountered by the Fall segment of the FedEx Cup.

“Observing competition should be straightforward,” expressed Brian Rolapp, the Chief Executive Officer of the PGA Tour, during the Tour Championship. “The regular season and the postseason should link together, progressing towards a Tour Championship that is understandable to all sports enthusiasts.”

Even though the new leader of the Tour was referring to the regular season and postseason format, this idea also relates to the Fall schedule. Two specific levels are emphasized — the Aon Next 10 and the top 100, which secure full-time status — but the subtleties beyond those specific rankings lack clarity. This generates bewilderment, ambiguity, and misunderstanding among both golfers and followers. This situation needs enhancement.

However, positive aspects did arise during this period. That would be overly negative perspective. Established PGA Tour participants and new competitors alike experienced victories for the first time. An unexpected tournament destination developed into a highly enjoyable viewing experience during the PGA Tour season, and one specific event gained increased interest because of top American players participating to prepare for the Ryder Cup.

Here, we evaluate both successes and shortcomings, and that’s what we’ll do for this year’s Fall portion of the FedEx Cup schedule. Praiseworthy achievements will be acknowledged, areas for improvement will be identified, and additional insights will be offered.

Champions of the Fall FedEx Cup

Newcomers

Modifications are ahead for the PGA Tour, regardless of personal opinion. Embrace the changes or risk becoming outdated. Harris English mentioned a modification to the calendar, to be implemented after the Super Bowl — some rumors suggest it will begin the same week at the WM Phoenix Open — and will include around 20 tournaments.

The key takeaway: The PGA Tour and what I’ve called the PGB Tour are likely to become more defined, going beyond the distinction between signature events and regular tournaments. A boundary will differentiate the most accomplished players on the Tour from the remaining participants.

Consequently, the first-time victors may be considered the standout performers of the Fall FedEx Cup. The specific rules for exemptions going forward are still unclear. The methods for qualifying for major events are yet to be determined. The final configuration of these changes is still uncertain.

However, Adam Schenk and Sami Valimaki (while Michael Brennan should be viewed separately, given his youth and impressive skill) have guaranteed their place on the PGA Tour until 2027. Given the many unknowns, golfers knowing this offers significant value.

Bermuda Championship

This tournament stood out as one of the top five events of the entire PGA Tour season. With tee times pushed earlier on Sunday before NFL games started, the Bermuda Championship gave golf enthusiasts one of the most compelling viewing experiences imaginable. This event was a welcome surprise.

Participants battled 40 mph gusts of wind, adjusted their shots, relied on ingenuity, and fought tenaciously with their means of living, potential for career advancement, and lifelong goals hanging in the balance. The drama was compelling, the personalities were captivating, and the quality of golf mirrored what the Fall segment needs more of.

Napa Valley

Even if it didn’t work out as hoped for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, it did turn out well for the Procore Championship. After players from the 2023 squad admitted they might not have been fully prepared for the Ryder Cup in Rome, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley took steps to ensure that wouldn’t be the situation as they approached the 2025 competition at Bethpage Black.

As a result, 11 of the 12 members of his team — Xander Schauffele was the exception, as he and his wife had just welcomed a new child — participated in the initial event of the Fall FedEx Cup. The outcome might have been anticipated — the top American golfers performed at their best, with Scottie Scheffler securing the victory — but it did create some early momentum for the swing season.

The top-ranked amateur, Jackson Koivun, contended, while a participant like Lanto Griffin, who was fighting to retain his Tour card, had his best start to the year and spoke candidly when he mentioned (half-jokingly) that he wished Scheffler hadn’t played.

Underperformers of the Fall FedEx Cup

Jordan Spieth

When a player underperforms during the regular season and postseason, they should, in theory, participate in the Fall FedEx Cup schedule, even if it’s for a single event. Spieth felt he didn’t need to participate, and ultimately, he was correct. Starting the Fall schedule inside the Aon Next 10, the three-time major champion fell just outside the mark when Max McGreevy surpassed him thanks to his second-place finish at the RSM Classic.

The initial reaction is to suggest that Spieth could receive sponsors’ invitations, but that’s unlikely. The inaugural signature event of 2026, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, will have a field of 80 participants because of the amateur component of the tournament. Entry is determined by the season-ending FedEx Cup standings, so Spieth will be included. He’s also the first alternate for the Genesis Invitational.

Spieth isn’t an “underperformer” in the strict sense of the term. The situation suggests the opposite, actually — he took time off, improved his position in some major tournaments, and might not lose anything — but in doing so, he highlighted a flaw in the system that requires attention.

Touring Professionals

It’s hard not to examine those ranked between Nos. 101 and 125 in the final FedEx Cup standings and recognize that these participants would have had guaranteed status during the previous year. With the PGA Tour tightening requirements for full-time playing opportunities, golfers like Seamus Power, Joel Dahmen, and Matt Kuchar — who have been on the PGA Tour for many seasons — will need to find other avenues for opportunities.

This isn’t a complete roadblock for these players, but the direction of the PGA Tour is easy to see. It is becoming progressively challenging for golfers to keep their membership each year.

“I’m really frustrated, to be honest,” shared Justin Lower. “I don’t have much else to add. It seems like when I express my thoughts, people tend to disagree, so I’d rather not say much. There’s a lot I could comment on regarding the changes, but given my situation, I feel uneasy about doing so, which I understand completely. I see the need for these changes. Do I support them? No. I don’t think our product is in such bad shape that we need to overhaul everything, which seems to be the plan. But clearly, I had a disappointing year. I missed many cuts, often by a single stroke. I shot 27 over par over two days at the U.S. Open. 

“Did I perform at my best this year? Certainly not. However, I worked incredibly hard this Fall, and to fall short, it’s disheartening. … The situation I’m in, and the situation many others are in, is truly unfortunate. I’m not a fan of the direction the Tour is heading.”

Well-Known Golfers Ranked Nos. 101-125 in FedEx Cup

Lack of Clarity 

After watching the broadcast on Sunday, viewers might have believed that those finishing outside the top 100 were finished on the PGA Tour, but that isn’t accurate. Lee Hodges, who finished No. 101 in the FedEx Cup, will have several opportunities next season. The same is true for Ricky Castillo, who finished at No. 102 and has the opportunity to improve his standing through Q-School.

“I fractured a rib and had to sit out, I think six or seven tournaments, and they gave me four [medical exemptions],” Hodges said. “It is what it is. It definitely benefited me quite a bit, yes. I had additional opportunities; it wasn’t my last tournament like some others, which is positive.

“My representatives have been telling me, ‘If you finish inside the top 111, you’ll be in a good position.’ So, I suppose 101 is acceptable after a difficult year — sorry, after the bad year I had this year. So yes, that’s how it is.”

While neither golfer retained full-time status, as Hodges and his agent pointed out, they still hold conditional status and are in a decent position going into 2026. Those ranked Nos. 101-110 are placed three spots higher on the priority ranking compared to those who finished Nos. 111-125, which could determine whether they participate in a few tournaments or not.