Fall season explained 🍁

Surprise! I know I said I’d see you next week, but my fingers wanted to type, so I thought I’d send out a little Friday afternoon edition. Hope it’s okay!

Let’s dive in…

FedEx Cup Fall explained

The Fortinet Championship in Napa, California is next week, kicking off a series of tournaments that make up the 2023 FedEx Cup Fall.

The FedEx what?

Catch up quick: For the past ten years, the PGA Tour has had a “wraparound” season — starting in the fall and concluding the following September at the Tour Championship.

• Moving forward, however, the PGA Tour wants its seasons to take place within the same calendar year. Alas, it created the FedEx Cup Fall.

Here’s how it’ll work:

• Starting with the Fortinet next week and finishing with the RSM Classic in mid-November, the FedEx Cup Fall will consist of seven tournaments — which are sanctioned PGA Tour events with sizable purses and normal FedEx Cup points.

• Players who finished outside the top 50 in FedEx Cup points during the 2022-23 regular season and first playoff event (aka, anyone who didn’t make it into this year's BMW Championship) will carry their points over to the FedEx Fall.

• After the seven tournaments, players ranked 51-60 in FedEx Cup points will earn their way into two of the first “signature events” in 2024 — the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational at Riviera.

• Players ranked within the top 125 are also guaranteed to keep their PGA Tour cards and play next season.

  • Of note: Players who finished inside the top 70 during the regular season already secured their tour cards for 2024 and need not worry about the top 125 cutoff.

The bottom line: The top two things on the line during the FedEx Cup Fall are entry into the signature events (the best and highest paying tournaments, outside of the majors and Players Championship) and keeping one’s job for next year.

What’s next: The Sentry Tournament of Champions in January will be the first tournament of the 2024 season.

Top storylines for the FedEx Cup Fall

Now that you sorta understand how the FedEx Cup Fall works, here are some of the biggest storylines to follow.

Who will play their way into the signature events?

Those who finish 51-60 in FedEx Cup points will punch their tickets to Pebble Beach and Riviera next year and, importantly, have a better chance at making their way into more signature events later in the season.

Some players to watch (with their current FedEx Cup rankings) include:

• Mackenzie Hughes (51)

• Nick Hardy (52)

• Taylor Montgomery (53)

• Thomas Detry (55)

• Davis Riley (59)

• Justin Thomas (71) 

• Adam Scott (72)

• Shane Lowry (78)

• Joel Dahmen (84)

• Billy Horschel (90)

Who will earn their tour cards for next year?

Some players have exemptions that will allow them to keep their PGA Tour cards in 2024. But others who finish outside the top 125 are in danger of not having full-time status next year, including:

• Maverick McNealy (108)

• C.T. Pan (120)

• Jimmy Walker (124)

• Harry Higgs (132)

• Charley Hoffman (137)

Will the big names show?

Millions of dollars are still at stake, so there’s a chance that some of the game’s best (who already finished inside the top 50) will play this fall. Just how many (and who exactly) remains to be seen.

We do know:

• Max Homa is scheduled to play the Fortinet in an effort to win three-in-a-row in wine country.

• Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, and Rickie Fowler have committed to play the ZOZO Championship in Japan this October.

• Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler recently said that after the Ryder Cup, he’ll be “hiding." (Hopefully, that’s not because of a poor putting performance in Rome.)

What else I’m reading 📖

Kevin Van Valkenburg’s (eloquent) case for Justin Thomas making this year’s Ryder Cup team. (No Laying Up) 

• Plus: JT’s dad says he’s still his son’s swing coach, despite recent rumors. (Golf Digest)

Rory McIlroy will attend a 48-hour bachelor party in Greece ahead of the Ryder Cup. (The Independent)

• Plus: McIlroy said his recent back injury will be “totally fine” for Rome. (ESPN)

Adrian Meronk said his initial emotions after learning he didn’t make the European Ryder Cup team went “from shock to sadness to anger.” (Sports Illustrated)

Heading into the weekend, here are 10 tips from Butch Harmon on eliminating blow-up holes. I need to seriously follow #2 (“Get your number to the middle”) and #9 (“Don't be a hero”). (Golf Digest)

And finally…

Here’s a reminder of how intense the crowds will be in Rome and a big reason why the US hasn’t won in Europe since 1993. (Volume up 🔊)

I’m nervous already.

Have a great weekend y’all. And this time, for real — I’ll see you on Wednesday. - Nick B.