Rickie Fowler Climbs FedExCup Standings with Sixth Place Finish at St. Jude Championship

Rickie Fowler’s journey to securing a spot in golf’s major events for 2026 became a tale of perseverance and performance during the FedEx St. Jude Championship. As Fowler teed off at this year’s FedExCup Playoffs opener, he was ranked 64th in the seasonal standings, needing to ascend into the top 50 by the conclusion of the week to continue his Playoff run and ensure automatic entry into next season's Signature Events.

By Sunday, Fowler found himself precariously close to the required ranking. Thanks to a decisive 1-under 69 in his closing round, Fowler claimed a tie for sixth place, pushing him up to 48th in the FedExCup standings. His advancement freed him from relying on sponsor exemptions, which had granted him entry into events throughout the season. Despite a shaky early nine, a crucial birdie at the 15th green solidified Fowler’s position, turning the tide in his favor amidst the intense competition.

Jordan Spieth experienced a contrasting fate on the TPC Southwind. Spieth, another recipient of several sponsor exemptions during the season, battled just beyond the top-50 threshold throughout the week. His efforts culminated in a 2-under 68 finish, which landed him at 54th — just short of securing passage to the BMW Championship. Consequently, Spieth will not feature among the competitors at next week’s event.

Elsewhere, the FedEx St. Jude Championship underscored high-stakes outcomes for several competitors. Kurt Kitayama exemplified a dramatic rise in the FedExCup standings through recent standout performances, including a win at the 3M Open. He turned in a tie for ninth in Memphis leading to a jump from 52nd to 37th place, robustly earning his spot in the BMW Championship.

J.T. Poston also managed to squeeze into the top 50 ranked players. Poston entered the tournament in 51st position, and despite pressure mounting in the closing stages, his play was sufficient to garner him a 22nd place finish, moving him to 50th in the standings. His advancement into the BMW Championship was akin to winning a tournament, with nerves reminiscent of such stakes.

Conversely, several players fell from the top 50 rankings, marking the end of their postseason. In addition to Spieth, golfers such as Aldrich Potgieter and Min Woo Lee found themselves edged out following lackluster performances. Potgieter, who began the week at 43rd, ended in a tie for 59th and dropped to 52nd in the standings. Lee echoed a similar downturn, moving from the bubble position of 50th to 57th following challenging rounds at TPC Southwind.

The shifting rankings following Memphis brought Stephan with consistency on the top performances of the year. Players who successfully navigated their way through the top 50 now set their sights on the next stage of the FedExCup Playoffs at the BMW Championship in Maryland. The blend of skill, strategy, and resilience on display during this Playoff leg captured the essence of competitive golf’s allure, as careers and seasons minding on performance during these pivotal moments in the sporting calendar.