The PGA Tour must be reading GolfByTourMiss as no sooner had we ‘posted’ a story highlighting the FedEx Cup standings and the Tour has gone and removed all LIV Golf playings from the 2021/22 money-list.
In a pre-Wyndham Championship feature ( http://www.golfbytourmiss.com/2022/08/beach-umbrellas-margaritas-jimmy-buffett-shane-lowry-can-play-it-cool-at-the-wyndham/ ) this website pointed out the various scenarios at this time of a PGA Tour season facing those teeing-up at this week’s host Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Though overnight the Tour sent a memo to PGA Tour players outlining advising those LIV Tour players have been removed from the 2021/22 FedEx Cup standings but then also stating there would an alternate points list for those suspended players.
In the memo, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said the change was being made so that those who have been suspended “do not negatively impact other players’ tournament eligibility, positioning on the priority rankings or eligibility to compete in the FedEx Cup playoffs.’’
The FedEx Cup on the 18th fairway at East Lake
All up, it’s meant all LIV players within the top 125 have been removed from the eligibility list including: Dustin Johnson, who had earlier resigned Tour membership, Talor Gooch, Matt Jones, Hudson Swafford, Jason Kokrak, Patrick Reed, Matt Wolff, Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortiz, Brooks Koepka and Pat Perez.
Also missing from the 2021/22 standing is the likes of Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey, Bryson DeChambeau, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell and others who are outside of the top 125.
As mentioned, Monahan’s memo stated those removed from the list will still be eligible for their FedEx Cup bonus based on the final official standings and no doubt in a legal move to save LIV Golf initiated litigation.
“We have taken steps to ensure that at the conclusion of the FedEx Cup regular season and FedEx Cup playoffs, any suspended players will not negatively impact bonus money distributions to you,” said Monohan in the memo.
“You will be awarded bonus money based on your final position on the FedEx Cup playoffs and eligibility points list; suspended members will be awarded bonus money based on their final position on the official FedEx Cup points list.”
The 2021/22 FedEx Cup champion will earn $18 million at the conclusion of the Tour Championship, with the 30th-place finisher receiving $500,000. The bonuses go all the way through the top 150 with those finishing 101 to 125 getting $120,000 and those from 126 to 150 receiving $85,000.
Players also in the top 30 receive a portion of the earnings in cash, with the rest deferred; while those from No. 31-150 receive all of the payment in deferred compensation.
Key FedEx Cup standings before removal of LIV Players & now updated 2021/22 FedEx Cup standings
Austin Smotherman 135th now 125th
Webb Simpson 126th now 117th
Patton Kizzire 124th now 115th
Jason Day 115th now 106th
Martin Laird 105th to 98th
Russell Knox 92nd to 86th
Shane Lowry 28th now 27th
Seamus Power 25th now 24th
