FedEx Cup scenarios: Tour Championship

All 30 players could still win the FedEx Cup trophy at East Lake GC

Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Jason Day could all win on Sunday. Credit: Jamie Squire (Getty)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

All 30 players could still win the FedEx Cup at the Tour Championship this week.

FedEx Cup scenarios: Tour Championship

Wouldn't it be great to be Harris English? He may be ranked 30th in the FedEx Cup play-off standings, but he will tee off at East Lake GC knowing that he could still win the main end-of-season event and that huge payout.

The only problem is it's going to be somewhat of a long shot. Not only will English need to win the Tour Championship, he will require the following to happen:

  • The No. 1-ranked player has to finish 29th or worse
  • No. 2 needs to finish in a three-way tie for sixth or worse
  • The No. 3 in the standings must finish T4 or worse
  • No. 4 would need to end up T3 or worse
  • No. 5 has to finish in a three-way T2 or worse
  • And the No. 6-ranked player must finish T2 or worse

Still smiling, Harris?

The answer is probably still yes given he's a well-paid and talented golfer. However, his chances of lifting the trophy Billy Horschel hoisted high last year are not favourable.

So, let's take a look at those players who still stand a realistic chance of winning the FedEx Cup...

 

Bubba Watson

The Floridian will need to play as close to perfect as he can if he's to outmuscle Jason Day to the FedEx Cup trophy. If Watson wins the Tour Championship, he will win the FedEx Cup. However, if he finishes in a two-way T2, he could still potentially win.

 

Henrik Stenson

There's no doubt that Stenson has been the nearly man of this year's play-offs after finishing second at the Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship. Funnily enough, another second place finish could be enough to win him the trophy. Like Watson, he will win it if he finishes first and could even still win if he were T3 come Sunday.

WATCH: Stenson's swing sequence

 

 

Rickie Fowler

Some would make a case that Fowler is one of the few players who genuinely deserves to win the FedEx Cup given his triumph at the Deutsche Bank. He will lift the trophy if he wins the Tour Championship, but could win by finishing in second-place. A T4 wouldn't rule him out completely either.

 

Jordan Spieth

It's been a so-so year for Spieth, wouldn't you agree? Two majors, a spell as no. 1 and now the chance to win the FedEx Cup, all by the age of 22. Like the aforementioned players, a win on Sunday gives him the FedEx Cup trophy. By finishing in the top 3, he would still give himself a good opportunity. A two-way T6 might even be enough.

 

Jason Day

It's becoming unusual when Jason Day doesn't win these days. Four victories in his last six events mean he's in a strong position. A fifth victory in seven on Sunday win would secure him the honours. However, he could, unbelievably, finish 29th and still stand a chance of winning. What's more realistic is that he'll finish somewhere in the top 5 and, if he does, have a good chance of stealing even more of the sports pages.

Will Medlock graduated from UEA with a degree in Film and Television before completing a Masters in Sports Journalism at St Mary's in London. Will has had work published by The Independent and the Rugby Paper.