FedEx Cup Betting Guide: How to Bet on the PGA Tour’s Season-Long Championship Series

The FedEx Cup brings the PGA Tour season to a dramatic conclusion, rewarding season-long performance while giving the game's top players one final opportunity to compete for one of golf's biggest prizes.

Introduced in 2007, the FedEx Cup is a season-long points competition that begins with the PGA Tour's regular-season schedule and culminates with the three-event FedEx Cup Playoffs. Players earn points based on their finishes throughout the season, with the top 70 in the standings qualifying for the playoffs and the field eventually narrowing to 30 for the TOUR Championship.

For golf bettors, the playoffs also provide three consecutive weeks of high-level tournament betting featuring increasingly exclusive fields. In this FedEx Cup guide, we will explain how the competition and points system work, break down the playoff format and TOUR Championship, look at how to approach betting on the three playoff events at top online sportsbooks, and cover the history of the FedEx Cup.

Best FedEx Cup Betting Sites: Where to Bet on the FedEx Cup in 2026

FedEx Cup betting is widely available at the best online sportsbooks, with odds offered throughout the PGA Tour season and across all three FedEx Cup Playoff events.

In addition to betting on the FedEx St. Jude Championship, BMW Championship, and TOUR Championship individually, sportsbooks may offer FedEx Cup futures that allow you to bet on which golfer will ultimately finish the season as FedEx Cup champion.

Lucky Rebel and BetOnline stand out as two of our top choices for betting on golf and the FedEx Cup. Both offer competitive golf odds and a wide variety of markets beyond tournament winners, including finishing position bets, head-to-head matchups, props, and live betting.

Lucky Rebel's welcome bonus (125% up to $1250 and 50 casino free spins) and Rebel Rewards loyalty program specifically stand out for the additional value that they provide for bettors.

Everygame offers another straightforward option with reliable golf coverage, while SportsBetting.ag regularly provides competitive odds across a variety of markets. Bovada is also a popular choice thanks to its intuitive platform and extensive golf betting coverage throughout the PGA Tour season.

In addition to our reviews and recommendations for these top U.S. online sportsbooks and others, Betting News has reviews and recommendations for the top Canadian sportsbooks, international sportsbooks, and VPN-friendly crypto sportsbooks for U.S. players.

Wherever you follow the PGA Tour from, our sportsbook reviews can help you find a suitable option for betting on the FedEx Cup and other golf events throughout the year.

What Is the FedEx Cup?

The FedEx Cup is the PGA Tour's season-long points competition. Players accumulate FedEx Cup points based primarily on their finishes in eligible tournaments, with those points determining their position in the standings and ultimately whether they qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

The competition was introduced in 2007 and has since become an important part of the PGA Tour season. Instead of determining the season champion based solely on money earned or another traditional ranking, the FedEx Cup gives players a season-long race with qualification thresholds and a postseason-style conclusion.

The regular season runs from January through August, followed by three playoff tournaments: the FedEx St. Jude Championship, BMW Championship, and TOUR Championship. The playoff field begins with 70 golfers before being reduced to 50 and finally 30.

Winning the FedEx Cup requires a combination of season-long consistency and strong play when it matters most. A golfer must first earn enough points to reach the playoffs, survive the progressive cuts in the field, and qualify for the TOUR Championship, where the FedEx Cup champion is ultimately crowned.

How Does the FedEx Cup Work?

The FedEx Cup is a season-long competition, so qualifying for the playoffs begins long before the final events of the PGA Tour season.

Players earn FedEx Cup points based on their finishes in eligible PGA Tour events throughout the regular season. Those points determine the FedEx Cup standings, with the top 70 players after the final regular-season event advancing to the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

From there, the field is reduced over three playoff events until the FedEx Cup champion is crowned at the TOUR Championship.

How Are FedEx Cup Points Awarded?

FedEx Cup points are awarded based on finishing position, with higher finishes earning more points. However, the number of points available also varies depending on the tournament.

For the 2026 season, winners of standard PGA Tour events offering 500 points receive the largest share, while the PLAYERS Championship and four major championships award 750 points to the winner. Signature Events also offer elevated FedEx Cup points.

Points are distributed beyond the winner, giving players opportunities to steadily improve their position without necessarily winning tournaments. A golfer who consistently makes cuts and records top finishes can accumulate a significant number of points over the course of the season.

This system rewards both winning and consistency, which helps ensure that performance across the PGA Tour season plays a significant role in determining who reaches the playoffs.

How Do the FedEx Cup Standings Work?

The FedEx Cup standings rank eligible PGA Tour players by the number of points they have accumulated during the season.

A player's position can change significantly from week to week, particularly following tournaments offering more FedEx Cup points. As the end of the regular season approaches, the standings also provide a clear picture of which players are safely inside the playoff field and which golfers need strong results in events such as the 3M Open and Wyndham Championship to qualify.

The standings remain important once the playoffs begin. Players carry their points into the FedEx St. Jude Championship and BMW Championship, where their performances can move them above or below the cutoff for the following event.

The FedEx Cup Playoffs: Crowning a Champion

At the conclusion of the PGA Tour regular season, the top 70 eligible players in the FedEx Cup standings qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

The FedEx Cup Playoffs take place over three consecutive tournaments following the conclusion of the PGA Tour regular season.

The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings qualify for the opening event, with the field shrinking after each of the first two tournaments. All three playoff events are played without a cut, giving every player who qualifies an opportunity to complete all four rounds.

How Do Players Qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs?

Simply reaching the playoffs does not guarantee a place in all three events. The postseason uses a progressive elimination format that rewards players for both their regular-season performance and their results during the playoffs.

The top 70 begin at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, but only the top 50 in the standings after that event advance to the BMW Championship. Following the BMW Championship, the field is reduced again, with the top 30 qualifying for the season-ending TOUR Championship.

For 2026, the FedEx St. Jude Championship and BMW Championship each award 750 FedEx Cup points to the winner. Players continue to accumulate points through those two events, with the updated standings determining who advances.

That 70-to-50-to-30 progression makes every playoff event increasingly important, and it sets the stage for three weeks that ultimately determine the FedEx Cup champion.

2026 FedEx Cup Playoffs Schedule

FedEx St. Jude Championship

The FedEx St. Jude Championship opens the playoffs at TPC Southwind in Memphis.

The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings are eligible to compete, making this the largest field of the three playoff events. With no 36-hole cut, every player remains in the tournament through the weekend.

At the end of the event, the FedEx Cup standings are updated based on the points earned at TPC Southwind. Only the top 50 advance to the BMW Championship, putting additional pressure on players who begin the week near or below the top-50 cutoff.

BMW Championship

The BMW Championship is the second and penultimate event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, with only the top 50 players in the standings advancing to the tournament.

Unlike the FedEx St. Jude Championship and TOUR Championship, the BMW Championship does not have a permanent home. In 2026, it will be held at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, which previously hosted the 2018 PGA Championship.

Another 20 players are eliminated following the BMW Championship. The top 30 in the updated FedEx Cup standings move on to the TOUR Championship, while everyone outside the top 30 sees their FedEx Cup title hopes come to an end.

The TOUR Championship – The FedEx Cup Playoff Finale

The TOUR Championship is the final event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and features the top 30 players who remain after the BMW Championship.

Since 2025, the TOUR Championship has used a straightforward 72-hole stroke-play format at East Lake Golf Club. All 30 players begin the tournament at even par, and the golfer with the lowest score after four rounds wins both the TOUR Championship and the FedEx Cup.

What Happened to FedEx Cup Starting Strokes?

From 2019 through 2024, the TOUR Championship used a Starting Strokes system designed to give players an advantage based on their FedEx Cup position entering the tournament.

Under that format, the standings leader started at 10-under par, while other players began anywhere from 8-under to even par depending on their ranking. The staggered starting scores meant the TOUR Championship leaderboard reflected both season-long performance and results at East Lake.

The PGA Tour eliminated Starting Strokes beginning with the 2025 TOUR Championship. The change simplified the finale: qualifying for East Lake is now the reward for season-long performance, while the FedEx Cup itself is decided entirely by the 72 holes played there.

What Does the FedEx Cup Champion Win?

Winning the TOUR Championship brings one of the biggest prizes on the PGA Tour.

Beginning in 2026, the TOUR Championship carries a $40 million purse that counts as official money, with $10 million going to the winner. The FedEx Cup champion also receives a five-year PGA Tour exemption.

FedEx Cup bonus money remains separate from the TOUR Championship purse and is distributed based on players' positions in the FedEx Cup standings through the BMW Championship.

How to Approach Betting on FedEx Cup Playoff Events

Betting on the FedEx Cup Playoffs is not fundamentally different from betting on other PGA Tour tournaments. However, the format and increasingly exclusive fields create some additional factors to consider.

The FedEx St. Jude Championship, BMW Championship, and TOUR Championship each bring together many of the best golfers on the PGA Tour, with the field shrinking from 70 to 50 and finally 30. That can affect everything from outright odds to finishing-position markets and player matchups.

As always, no betting strategy guarantees success. However, understanding how each playoff event differs from a typical PGA Tour tournament can only help you as you lock in your card each week.

What Can You Bet on During the FedEx Cup Playoffs?

Most of the same betting markets available throughout the PGA Tour season can also be found during the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Outright winner odds allow you to bet on the tournament champion, while finishing-position markets may include top-5, top-10, and top-20 bets. Sportsbooks can also offer head-to-head matchups, round leader odds, player props, and live betting markets throughout each tournament.

You may also find futures odds on the overall FedEx Cup winner before and during the playoffs.

For a more detailed explanation of golf betting markets and how they work, visit our Golf Betting Guide.

Consider the Strength and Size of Each Field

One of the biggest differences between the FedEx Cup Playoffs and a typical PGA Tour event is the concentration of top players.

There are fewer longshots in the field, and the competition becomes even stronger as the playoffs progress from 70 players to 50 and then 30. That can influence the value available for outright winner bets and finishing position bets.

Field size also matters when evaluating bets such as top-10 and top-20 finishes. A top-20 bet in a 70-player field is very different from a top-20 finish at the 30-player TOUR Championship, so don't evaluate the odds based solely on how you would approach the same market in a full-field PGA Tour event.

Evaluate Current Form and Course Fit

Recent form and course fit remain important during the FedEx Cup Playoffs, just as they are throughout the PGA Tour season.

However, bettors should evaluate each tournament individually rather than treating the playoffs as one continuous event. The three host courses can reward different strengths, making statistics such as strokes gained off the tee, approach, around the green, and putting more or less relevant from week to week.

Changes could come to the FedEx Cup playoffs in the near future, but host courses are an important consideration for the current era of the playoffs. Like the Masters, the FedEx St. Jude Championship and TOUR Championship take place at the same venue each year. On the other hand, the BMW Championship changes venues each year, like the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and Open Championship.

As is the case for those three mentioned majors, it is important for BMW Championship bettors to research the course hosting the tournament each year rather than relying heavily on results from previous editions.

Don't Overlook the FedEx Cup Standings

The standings add another layer to playoff analysis, particularly during the first two events.

Players near the top-50 or top-30 cutoff may need a strong finish to advance, while golfers near the top of the standings have considerably more security. Those scenarios can provide useful context when evaluating players, but do not see them as a reason to make a bet by themselves.

Needing a top finish does not necessarily make a golfer more likely to produce one. Consider a player's position in the standings alongside their form, statistical profile, course fit, and betting odds rather than assuming that greater urgency automatically translates into better performance.

By the TOUR Championship, the equation becomes much simpler. All 30 players have already earned their place at East Lake, and with the FedEx Cup decided by 72-hole stroke play, bettors can focus primarily on identifying which players are best positioned to perform that week.

FedEx Cup Winners and History

The FedEx Cup began in 2007, adding a season-long points race and playoff conclusion to the PGA Tour schedule. Tiger Woods became the inaugural FedEx Cup champion, and many of the biggest names in golf have since followed.

While the format has evolved several times since its introduction, the goal remains the same: reward strong performance throughout the PGA Tour season before ultimately crowning a FedEx Cup champion.

Past FedEx Cup Champions

Who Has Won the Most FedEx Cup Titles?

Rory McIlroy holds the record with three FedEx Cup championships, winning the season-long title in 2016, 2019, and 2022.

Tiger Woods is the only other multiple winner. He captured the inaugural FedEx Cup in 2007 before winning it for a second time in 2009.

Despite many of golf's biggest names appearing on the list of champions, winning the FedEx Cup multiple times has proven difficult. Through 2025, McIlroy and Woods are the only players to accomplish the feat.

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FedEx Cup FAQ