FOMO (that's fear of missing out for those unaware) may have been coined in the early 2000s, but it has now come to golf as PGA Tour Card FOMO, something that must give a few players sleepless nights.
For certain, it will drive many of them nuts for the next two weeks because that’s when the PGA Tour regular season ends.
Those who reach the end of the season and aren’t in the top 70 in FedEx Cup points are without a guaranteed PGA Tour card for 2026. It doesn’t mean they can’t play from time to time, since most fields will more than likely be close to the same size they have been in years past.
But it does mean they can’t set a schedule because they aren’t guaranteed a spot in ANY tournament next year unless they are a recent tournament winner.
In addition to the top 70, there are the top 50 who are also exempt into the Signature Events. So, those from 51 to 70 can’t play in the Signature Events unless they receive a sponsor exemption, as Rickie Fowler did several times this season.
It was probably pretty easy to justify that, too. He’s popular with fans. He treats people well. There’s something to be said for that. (Take notes, Wyndham Clark.)
Those from 65 to 75 had better be on their guard, as they need more points and can't afford to lose any to players higher up in the pecking order. In fact, anybody from 40 to 80 in points is vulnerable to some kind of position shock.
For certain, Fowler is one of the big name Bubble Boys. He was 72nd in FedEx points before the British Open, and now he’s moved up to 63rd. Clearly, he wants to improve his position because he’s in the field for this week’s 3M Open.
If he remained in the same place for two more weeks, he’d at least be guaranteed a card, but there are 155 other players this week who want to finish ahead of him, including the likes of Sam Burns, Akshay Bhatia, Cameron Champ, Eric Cole, Nick Dunlap, Austin Eckroat, Tony Finau, Chris Gotterup, Max Homa. The list goes on down through Gary Woodland and Kevin Yu. Everybody could use a victory at this point in the season.
It's all about the math. A victory this week is worth 500 points. That lifts anybody down to about 175th place into the top 70. But those points are heavily weighted toward the top. Second gets 300. Third, 190 points. Tenth, 75. So, someone needing a pile of points should finish in the top 10, at the very least.
Those 75 points might get Jake Knapp into the top 50. They’d probably solidify Rickie Fowler’s place in the top 70, but no more.
Here’s a shocker. If Jordan Spieth doesn’t earn some additional points, his place in the top 50 might be in jeopardy. He won’t be exempt into the top events. He’s in 48th place now, and he’s not playing the 3M. But he will definitely finish in the top 70 just because it’s so hard to make up FedEx points with only two tournaments remaining, the other being next week's Wyndham Championship.
And, like Rickie Fowler, he’s so well liked by fans and tournament directors that he usually gets a sponsor exemption to Signature Events, although both failed to get one at the Arnold Palmer Invitational back in March.
Anybody from 40 to 80 in points is vulnerable to some kind of position shock.
Adam Scott is outside any guarantees. He’s now 85th in points. It will be hard but not impossible for him to get into the top 70. He’s playing in the 3M and would have to finish third and get some help from others not getting as many points to get to the 70th spot.
However, Scott is also well-liked and an asset to any tournament. He’s likely to receive any number of sponsor exemptions. Give him bonus points in your mind for making the effort and playing in Minnesota.
One you don’t have to worry about is Sahith Theegala. Even though he’s 140th in FedEx points. He is still exempt for his victory in 2023. But he starts from zero for 2027 and has to get on the FedEx Cup treadmill once again!
For some good and bad fun this weekend, get out your calculator app and be ready to do some on-the-fly addition and subtraction for players with FOMO. It’s sure to be a sizable list, and there are definitely going to be some bad surprises along the way. Some guys are going to be very disappointed and others will be pleased. It all depends on the darn points.