The FedEx Cup Playoffs have diversified of their degree of predictability over the previous few years with the 2025 version more likely to fall right into a extra unpredictable class. With the PGA Tour in Could saying a change to the Tour Championship format that may permit all 30 golfers within the postseason last to start out at a degree enjoying discipline, simply advancing to East Lake Golf Membership will create a reputable likelihood to say the highest prize on the season’s conclusion.
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland have claimed FedEx Cup crowns lately, and all three ought to consider some capability this postseason. With the added variance launched within the Tour Championship and no beginning strokes awarded to gamers, there could also be some outsiders who current an inside likelihood at elevating the silver cup.
As few as two or as many as 12 rounds of golf separate gamers from their offseasons as the highest 70 on the PGA Tour play within the St. Jude Championship earlier than the sector is trimmed to 50 gamers on the BMW Championship and eventually 30 for the Tour Championship.
May somebody from exterior the highest 50 play his approach into the BMW Championship, the Tour Championship and even the winner’s circle at East Lake?
So, what precisely goes to occur throughout the three weeks of the FedEx Cup Playoffs? Let’s take a primary have a look at some predictions and picks from our CBS Sports activities specialists as we try to undertaking who will win — and what is going to go down — on this iteration of the postseason.
2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs picks, skilled predictions
Odds through DraftKings Sportsbook
Patrick McDonald, golf author
Decide to win FedEx Cup — Russell Henley (22-1): Henley enters the playoffs inside the highest 5 within the season-long race and is assured of a tee time on the Tour Championship. He completed in third final season at a restored East Lake and can arrive this yr in the most effective type of his profession. The dependable proper hander continues to contend (and win) in big-time occasions like main championships and signature occasions, so it’s not a stretch to counsel he can achieve this once more in a restricted discipline.
Sleeper to win FedEx Cup — Aaron Rai (200-1): Plenty of work must be achieved for Rai, however he has the make-up to go all the way in which. The Englishman is exterior the top-50 bubble on the onset of the postseason, however a robust begin at TPC Southwind might function a launchpad for the month of August. Rai simply completed inside the highest 5 on the Wyndham Championship, and he is an ideal match for TPC Southwind and East Lake ought to he make it that far.
Most certainly to disappoint — Ben Griffin (begins at No. 6): Griffin bought again on the wagon on the Wyndham Championship however had hit a bit snag earlier than that with two straight missed cuts on the John Deere Traditional and The Open. he will likely be enjoying golf programs — Caves Valley and East Lake — that he has not seen earlier than in PGA Tour competitors, and his ball hanging has taken a dip from its summer season peak.
Participant with probably the most on the road — Jordan Spieth (begins at No. 48): Spieth was criticized all through 2025 as a consequence of accepting sponsor invites into signature occasions, however now he has an opportunity to play himself into these tournaments. If he maintains his place inside the highest 50, Spieth will be capable to decide and select his schedule in 2026, which he even admitted will likely be an enormous season for him on his highway again from wrist surgical procedure. If he exceeds expectations and qualifies for the Tour Championship, that probably means he contended in (or received) one of many first two playoff occasions, which will surely increase eyebrows from U.S. Ryder Cup management.
Robby Kalland, golf author
Decide to win FedEx Cup — Scottie Scheffler (12/5): Why trouble speaking your approach into another person successful these massive occasions solely to look at Scheffler steamroll the sector? He torched the new-look East Lake final yr (-20 with out beginning strokes), and I see no purpose to consider he cannot do it once more this yr. The ball-striking travels in every single place, and it certain looks like his putter is making extra journeys than not now, too, which is a terrifying proposition.
Sleeper to win FedEx Cup — Wyndham Clark (190-1): Wyndham has been on a tear since destroying some lockers at Oakmont.
Do I agree together with his strategies? No, nevertheless it’s arduous to argue with the outcomes. He is gone T17, MC, T11, T4 and T12 for the reason that U.S. Open, clawing his solution to forty ninth within the standings. He’ll have to do extra work to make it to East Lake, however he bought a high 10 on the St. Jude final yr, and Caves Valley was pleasant to long-hitters in 2021. There may be completely a path for him to get inside the highest 30, and if he makes it to East Lake, he is bought a third and eighth place end there the final two years.
Most certainly to disappoint — Keegan Bradley (begins at No. 10): Because the first playoff occasion moved to Memphis, Bradley has gone MC, T43 and T59 on the St. Jude. That does not bode nicely for getting off to the sort of scorching begin he wants in these playoffs to take a bit strain off his impending Ryder Cup captain’s picks. If he does not have an amazing displaying in both of the primary two playoff occasions, his resolution on whether or not to choose himself as a enjoying captain turns into much more tough.
After he received the Traveler’s Championship, he appeared to be a lock for the group, however Bradley has light some down the stretch as others have come on sturdy late within the yr to offer him some actually robust decisions. He is achieved an unimaginable job this yr retaining Keegan the participant separate from Keegan the captain, however that is going to be almost unimaginable these subsequent two weeks with captain’s picks due after the BMW. It additionally appears becoming that this resolution be as tortuous as doable, and that may be the case if he’s limping by means of the playoffs.
Participant with probably the most on the road — Collin Morikawa (begins at No. 19): There’s three gamers have a case for this spot: Morikawa, Spieth and Bradley. Two of these names have been mentioned already, so I will not rehash them right here. Morikawa has been spiraling to finish his season. He is gone by means of a number of caddie adjustments (with one other new bag man this week in Memphis), sparred with the media at totally different occasions, posted one high 10 end going again to the Masters (T8 on the Rocket Traditional), missed his final two cuts and now stands exterior the highest 6 for an automated spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup group.
For a man that was wanting formidable to start out the yr and lengthy stood as one of the constant performers on the PGA Tour, it has been a somewhat beautiful season from Morikawa. The playoffs present a pivot level for him. If he continues to battle, he isn’t absolutely locked into the Tour Championship. Whereas it would be stunning for him to overlook the Ryder Cup group, he is actually not making the most effective case for himself going into Bethpage Black.
Nevertheless, Morikawa does have three extra possibilities to proper the ship and construct some momentum going into the Ryder Cup. He is performed solidly on the St. Jude prior to now and would’ve crushed Scheffler at East Lake final yr if not for the beginning strokes. There is probably not a high participant in larger want of some positivity on the course proper now than Morikawa, and if he cannot discover that, chatter will solely develop louder earlier than Bethpage.
Who will win the FedEx St. Jude Championship, and which longshots will stun {the golfing} world? Visit SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard and best bets, all from the mannequin that is nailed 16 golf majors heading into the weekend — together with the previous 4 Masters — and is up over $8,500 since June 2020.
