The FedEx Cup playoffs are back on and the one given this week is that Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson have performed their way into a guaranteed Top Five spot at East Lake next week.
To be determined is who will join them in the group that controls its destiny in the hunt for $10 million.
Hideki Matsuyama and Jon Rahm have work to do to join them. Matsuyama is four, Rahm five. Rahm is trending up, Matsuyama down coming into the BMW this week at Conway Farms.
Rickie Fowler, Marc Leishman, Paul Casey and Brooks Koepka are all candidates to squirm their way into those last two spots in the top five.
Casey had been the most consistent of those three, Leishman is playing well enough to win. Fowler and Koepka will need a big week to jump up.
Spieth has had a lot to think about after a pair of runner-up finishes. Conway Farms fits his game, it’s not overly long at 7,200 yards. Spieth’s putting has come to life but he is still suffering from those inopportune bogeys.
The biggest name who hasn’t performed in the playoffs is world No. 6 Rory McIlroy. His health was a question coming into the playoffs and he hinted he could be a scratch but he’s shown up but hasn’t done anything to brag about, especially his missed cut two weeks ago in Boston.
At No. 51, he’s a long-shot to return to Atlanta.
Then there are the Bubble Boys.
Phil Mickelson has worked his way to 36th and needs another good showing to jump into the top 30.
Bill Haas is sitting on the lucky No. 30. Mackenzie Hughes is 31, Xander Schauffle 32, Hudson Swafford 33, Sergio Garcia 34 and Charles Howell III 35.
Who makes it, who doesn’t?
Stay tuned.
