We are officially in crunch time for guys trying to work their way into the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
The Wyndham Championship serves as the final event of the regular season on the PGA Tour, and for many, it represents a mad dash for the top 70 to get into the field for the FedEx St. Jude next week, which serves as the first round of the playoffs.
Because of this, the field this year at Sedgefield boasts a lot of star power, including Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama, and many other top players.
The biggest thing to focus on around Sedgefield is hitting the fairways, as it is one of the most penal courses on Tour to those who don't do so. Marry finding the fairway with strong approach play, and you have the ultimate recipe for success this week.
The rankings last week didn't do all that well at the 3M Open, even though we went into Sunday with Akshay Bhatia holding the 54-hole lead for us. Nevertheless, we shall treat this week like we're on the bubble, and putting in our best effort to make the playoffs.
Honorable Mentions: Luke Clanton, Brian Campbell, Andrew Novak, Andrew Putnam, Sam Stevens
9. Jackson Koivun
The 20-year-old amateur has looked very impressive in his last couple of starts on the PGA Tour, with a T11 at the John Deere and a T6 at the ISCO Championship a couple of weeks ago.
He still definitely needs some refinement around the margins with his game, but his current form has put Koivun squarely in the conversation to win this week. As long as he can keep his driver under control, don't be surprised to see the current No. 1 amateur in the world on the front page of the leaderboard.
8. Alex Noren
Sedgefield Country Club loves guys who can keep it in the fairway and hit solid irons (case in point, Aaron Rai winning last year).
Coming off a T7 at TPC Twin Cities last week, Alex Noren feels ready to chase a win this week before the playoffs. Noren really needs to start racking up some more points to keep his Tour card, and while it is very unlikely that he will be able to vault into the top 70 before the FedEx St. Jude, Noren putting his skill set to use this week should be able to give him a good push towards cracking the top 100, so that he can maintain his card.
7. J.T. Poston
Yes, the Postman has failed to deliver since his T5 finish at the PGA Championship in May. However, returning to the site of his first career win should be able to help him on his charge through the playoffs.
He currently sits 54th in the FedEx Cup standings and needs to play well to make the BMW Championship in a couple of weeks. The 32-year-old's driving accuracy and iron play should keep him in the mix this weekend and give him an outside chance of making it to Atlanta.
6. Aaron Rai
Defending champion Aaron Rai might still be playing for that last spot on Europe's Ryder Cup team for Bethpage. One of the most accurate drivers on Tour, the Englishman is looking to put a jolt into a somewhat sleepy 2025, where he hasn't really threatened for a win since the Mexico Open.
Coming back to a place where keeping the ball in the fairway is tantamount will play right into both of Rai's gloved hands. It'll be tough for Rai to repeat as champion, but he should be making his way up the leaderboard pretty easily.
5. Ryan Gerard
Coming off of his first career win at the Barracuda Championship, Ryan Gerard finds himself right on the bubble for making it to East Lake at the end of the playoffs, but he's going to have to keep up his form to do so.
The biggest thing for Gerard, as is always the case, is going to be if he can actually putt well this week. The iron play and driving skill are there; he just needs to learn how to putt. What may help Gerard this week is that Sedgefield has very difficult greens, so the baseline level for the field may fall back and work in Gerard's favor. Beat them with ball striking, and hopefully, some putts will fall.
4. Ben Griffin
Look, it's been a tough last couple of starts for the Ben Griffin Fan Club. However, one sign of hope is that Griffin has only missed the last two cuts because he had a couple of bad Thursdays, but has been able to have solid Fridays and barely missed the weekend at the John Deere and The Open.
There aren't any holes in Griffin's game, and as we saw during Hot Griff Summer 2025, his game can travel. I think not having to worry about making the FedEx Cup and knowing his card is locked up thanks to his wins from earlier this year will let the 29-year-old play freely at Sedgefield this week.
3. Harry Hall
Much like Aaron Rai, I believe that Harry Hall has a strong case for the No. 12 spot at Bethpage for Europe. Hall has been extremely consistent for the last few months, only finishing outside of the top 25 once since Myrtle Beach, and that was a T28 at The Open.
Hall has been one of the best putters on Tour all season (he's basically the English version of Denny McCarthy) and is currently a top-25 player in the world based on the Data Golf rankings. Hall feels like the type of player who could find a hot streak over the next couple of weeks and completely change everyone's perception of him, and I like him this week.
2. Keegan Bradley
I don't care. If Keegan wins this week, put him on the Ryder Cup team. I'm over the debate. I think he should be playing anyway, but another win, regardless of field strength, should solidify Captain Bradley's spot on his own roster.
He has cooled off a touch since his win at the Travelers, but this type of field should allow Keegan to lift and separate a bit from the majority of the field. My visions for Keegan at Bethpage may be blinding the analysis a little bit for the rankings, but I have faith in the captain.
1. Matt Fitzpatrick
Matt Fitzpatrick is well and truly back, and I love to see it.
Fitzy fully found rock bottom through the end of last year and a good amount of this year, but nobody not named Scottie Scheffler has been hotter the last month than Fitzy.
Back-to-back T4s at the Scottish and British Opens, along with a T8 at the Rocket Classic, are letting Fitzpatrick work his way back into "lock" territory for the Ryder Cup team, and he will end up running his way to Atlanta in the FedEx Cup over the next few weeks. This will all keep going forward this week at the Wyndham, so don't be surprised to see another Englishman conquer Greensboro.