Pro Golf Now
Fansided

Notables Outside the Top-125 in the FedEx Cup Race

By Benjamin Criswell

NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA - SEPTEMBER 06: Zach Johnson of the United States plays his shot from the 13th tee during the first round of the BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on September 6, 2018 in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA - SEPTEMBER 06: Zach Johnson of the United States plays his shot from the 13th tee during the first round of the BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on September 6, 2018 in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The 2019 PGA Tour season is coming to a close. For the game’s top players this week provides a much-needed respite ahead of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, for others, The Wyndham Championship is their last hope.

The 2019 PGA Tour regular season will come to a close on Sunday ahead of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. For the elite players in the world, this week will be spent preparing for what will hopefully be three consecutive weeks of golf and a run at the FedEx Cup (and that check for $15 million).

More from Pro Golf Now

For others, the Wyndham Championship is their last chance to get into the playoffs and secure their tour cards for the 2020 season if not already secured.

The field at the Wyndham Championship has historically excluded the very top players in the world rankings, but that hasn’t made for an uninteresting tournament. What awaits in Greensboro is one final opportunity to cement a golfer’s place on Tour, which should make for an exciting championship.

Among those currently standing outside of the top-125, are some familiar faces. Players that have won major championships and regular tour events. Some players were thought of recently as stars just waiting to break out. No matter the cause, there is still hope that their season won’t end on Sunday.

The players listed below are all outside of the top-125 in the FedEx Cup standings and will need at least a good week to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Patton Kizzire – 129th

Kizzire won twice on the PGA Tour last season, but 2019 has not been as kind to the 33-year-old. Currently sitting four spots back of qualifying for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, Kizzire has missed 11 cuts in 23 starts and is on track for his worst finish in the FedEx Cup standings since officially joining the tour in 2016. At 129th, an above-average week should be enough to propel him into the playoffs.

Daniel Berger – 131st

Once thought of as a member of golf’s talented group of youngsters, Berger has steadily fallen in the FedEx rankings since finishing the 2017 season in eighth place. That same year, Berger helped the U.S. President’s Cup team to victory over the internationals.

It’s safe to say that Berger won’t be in consideration for this year’s team but there is still work to be done for the 26-year-old. Berger has just one top-10 finish this season, and he’ll need to finish close to that mark to have a chance of playing into August.

Jason Dufner – 136th

Dufner earned his PGA Tour Card the hard way, bouncing back-and-forth from then Web.Com events to Tour events. Dufner’s first full season on the PGA Tour came in 2004, but he didn’t win his first tournament until 2012.

The following year Dufner won his first and only major at the PGA Championship. Dufner has finished each of the last ten seasons inside of the top-125 but will need an outstanding week at the Wyndham Championship to secure his spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Zach Johnson – 152nd

Johnson currently stands outside of the top-125 for the first time in his 15 year PGA Tour career. Since 2009, Johnson has only finished one season outside the top 50. The winner of the 2015 Open Championship is certainly trending in the wrong direction carding only three top-25 finishes in 2019. The bulldog will need a monster week, and a little help, to tee it up at the Northern Trust Open.

Jimmy Walker – 155th

After officially joining the PGA Tour in 2008, Jimmy Walker steadily rose in the rankings culminating in a three-win 2014 season that propelled Walker to a second-place finish in the FedEx Cup race.

The following year, Walker won two more times and finished fourth. In 2016, Walker won his first and only major at the PGA Championship. Since then, injuries and poor play have derailed the promising career of one of the games best. Walker has finished inside the top-125 in each of the last nine years but will need help to make it 10.

Next. Wyndham Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Sedgefield. dark

There are further longshots as well, but most of them would need a top-five finish or even a win. Watching the little FedEx Cup rankings next to everyone’s name this week is going to be exciting for certain.

Home/PGA