FedEx Cup Bubble Watch: Jackson Koivun and Keegan Bradley Fight for Playoff Spots

The PGA Tour’s decision to streamline its schedule in recent years has yielded numerous advantages. One of the most significant outcomes is the elevated status of the Wyndham Championship. Annually in Greensboro, North Carolina, competitors coming off average campaigns get a final shot at turning an underwhelming season into an unforgettable success.

In recent years, this event—serving as the ultimate gateway for bubble players attempting to secure a spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs—has crowned champions such as Cameron Young and Aaron Rai (following the dramatic Monday finish caused by Matt Kuchar stalling the tournament).

Back in 2023, double-major winner Justin Thomas required an exceptional performance to climb into the top 70 of the FedEx Cup rankings and strengthen his candidacy for the Ryder Cup squad. In the end, Thomas missed out in heartbreaking fashion when his chip on the final hole, which would have punched his postseason ticket, agonizingly spun out of the cup.

Entering the week, 21-year-old Jackson Koivun holds the 70th and final playoff position. Koivun managed to stay afloat in Detroit to protect his No. 70 ranking after a victory at the 3M Open previously surged him up the leaderboard. Preparing for what will be his fifth start, he is looking for another strong display to lock in his postseason berth, while chasing competitors hope he falters so they can seize the opportunity and leapfrog him into the playoffs.

2026 FedEx Cup Playoffs Bubble Watch

Making a run into the postseason could catch the eye of the U.S. Presidents Cup captaincy, which features Keegan Bradley and Brandt Snedeker. Bradley will influence whether Koivun makes the roster following his rookie PGA Tour season, even as the former Ryder Cup captain himself occupies the No. 72 spot in the standings, chasing the young phenom.

To advance to the postseason, Bradley needs to secure at least a share of 38th place with one other player, per PGA Tour projections. This represents his baseline target, assuming competitors positioned between him and the top 70 do not increase their totals. Should Koivun play the weekend and accumulate more FedEx Cup points, Bradley’s target finish will become even steeper.

The ex-U.S. Ryder Cup skipper is well-positioned to achieve this, considering his current momentum. Having successfully made the cut in every event since the PGA Championship, Bradley enters the final tournament of the regular season boasting three top-20 results over his previous six outings.

While Snedeker is set to lead the Presidents Cup squad, he finds himself among a massive group of players ranked outside the top 80 who require a standout week. Having already captured a victory in Myrtle Beach, Snedeker must secure at least a solo sixth-place finish to jump up from his current No. 83 ranking.

He sits just behind Jackson Suber at No. 82, who in turn leads Denny McCarthy (who must finish solo fifth or better) and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka (who requires a solo fourth-place finish). Both Koepka and Day have pulled out of several recent events leading up to this week.

Though showing occasional flashes of brilliance, Koepka’s campaign back on the PGA Tour has been somewhat underwhelming. Struggles on the greens were his primary obstacle early in the season, yet he still recorded six top-20 finishes during his opening 11 events. However, a hand issue derailed his progress at the Canadian Open, and he has failed to post a top-20 finish since, sliding down to No. 86 in the standings.

Several other prominent competitors find themselves below the cutoff line, such as Tony Finau at No. 89 and Andrew Novak at No. 91 (both requiring at least a two-way tie for third place), along with Max Greyserman at No. 99 (who needs a solo third-place finish).

Historically, only a few players manage to slide across the playoff line during the final four days of the regular season. However, unexpected shifts are always possible, and with numerous marquee names fighting for survival, this edition of the Wyndham Championship promises a thrilling battle for postseason spots.