Rory McIlroy‘s decision to skip the opening event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs has sparked concern among PGA Tour leadership, as the structure of the postseason comes under scrutiny.
The reigning Masters champion, currently ranked second in the FedEx Cup standings, has opted not to compete in this week’s St. Jude Championship in Memphis, despite boasting 3444 FedEx Cup points.
He’s well behind Scottie Scheffler‘s 4806 but comfortably ahead of third-placed Sepp Straka (2595) and his absence from the first leg of the three-event playoff has stirred debate over the format’s effectiveness.
It exposed the lack of deterrents for high-ranked players choosing not to participate and the Tour’s current Policy Board member, Peter Malnati, expressed serious concern about the situation.
Whilst McIlroy himself had hinted at skipping the event as early as November last year, citing his poor finish in 2024 at the same tournament and lack of incentive to bother.
“I mean, I finished basically dead last there this year,” McIlroy told The Telegraph in 2024. “And only moved down one spot in the playoff standings.”
What is the new format as McIlroy skips FedEx Cup?
The Top 50 players from the St. Jude Championship will advance to next week’s BMW Championship, with the Top 30 after that event having the honour of moving on to the Tour Championship.
Under 2025’s revised format, all 30 players in the final event will begin on even par, which will be eliminating the staggered-start system previously used and giving each golfer an equal chance to win the FedEx Cup.
This change may further reduce incentives for players in strong positions to compete in all three events as McIlroy, who has already secured $10 million in regular-season bonus earnings, will not suffer a significant competitive disadvantage even if he also skips the BMW Championship.
The winner of each playoff event receives $3.6 million, while the Tour Championship winner is awarded $10 million.
For critics, McIlroy‘s decision underscores the need to re-evaluate the playoff structure. Without meaningful consequences for opting out, elite players may increasingly choose rest over competition, diminishing the prestige of key events and potentially weakening fan engagement.
As discussions continue behind the scenes, the PGA Tour may soon be forced to reconsider how it incentivizes participation from its top stars, especially during its most high-profile stretch of the season.
Where to Watch FedEx Cup in the USA?
The 2025 FedExCup Playoffs will be broadcast across NBC platforms in the U.S., with NBC airing weekend coverage of all three events: the St. Jude Championship, BMW Championship, and Tour Championship.
Early rounds and supplemental coverage will be shown on Golf Channel. Fans can stream all action live via Peacock Premium. Additionally, PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will feature selected groups and holes during earlier rounds.
SiriusXM will provide live radio broadcasts. This year marks NBC’s rotation to cover the playoffs under the PGA Tour’s alternating media rights agreement with CBS, which resumes its coverage in 2026.
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