Scheffler's Second FedEx Cup: 2026 Winners and Losers
The 2026 PGA Tour season ended Sunday with Scottie Scheffler hoisting the FedEx Cup trophy for the second time in three years. The World No. 1 finished at 16-under par at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, proving once again why he sits atop the golf world.
In the second-to-last year of the current playoff format, here are the men who seized the moment and those who let it slip away.
Winner: Scottie Scheffler, 2026 FedEx Cup Champion
Scheffler shook off an uneven season to close with a 4-under 66 Sunday, tied for the best round of the day. He led the field in strokes gained approach (7.042) and hit 57 of 72 greens in regulation. His 21 birdies ranked second, and he posted just five bogeys all week. This marks his third win of 2026 and a statement that the top spot is not up for debate.
Loser: Ryan Gerard
Gerard had his best year on tour, jumping 36 spots in the FedEx Cup standings to finish inside the top 50 for the second straight season. But Sunday was a gut punch. A double bogey on his opening hole set the tone, and he stumbled to 2-over par to finish third. His iron play abandoned him when it mattered most, ranking 24th in strokes gained approach in the final round.
Winner: Chris Gotterup
Gotterup opened the season like a man on fire with two wins in three weeks. He closed with a 1-over 71 to finish T4, his second straight top 10 in the Tour Championship. With three wins in 2026, he looks like a lock for a Presidents Cup captain's pick. This is a man who delivers when the spotlight is on.
Loser: Viktor Hovland
Hovland held the 54-hole lead and let it slip. A 2-over 72 Sunday included three-putt bogeys from 51 and 43 feet. He could not replicate his Saturday surge, when he went 4-under on the final six holes. This was his best Tour Championship finish since his 2023 win, but the trophy was within reach and he let it go.
Winner: Wyndham Clark
Clark won the BMW Championship last week, his third victory of the season, tying him with Scheffler for the most on tour. Add the CJ Cup and the U.S. Open to his resume, and Clark has a legitimate case for Player of the Year. His T21 at East Lake was a footnote to a season of substance.
Losers: Kurt Kitayama, Rickie Fowler, and Bud Cauley
These three entered the BMW Championship holding the final three spots inside the top 30. All they had to do was hold their ground. They finished T26, T37, and T44, respectively, and all three watched the Tour Championship from home. A trip to East Lake would have secured a Masters invite. Instead, they are left to wonder what could have been.
Winner: Alex Fitzpatrick
At the start of the year, Fitzpatrick was grinding on the DP World Tour. Then his brother Matt called about the Zurich Classic. The brothers won, and Alex earned a two-year PGA Tour exemption. He followed with consecutive top 10s in Signature Events and a T4 at the Tour Championship, ranking third in the field with 97 feet of putts made. The American Dream is alive and well.
Loser: J.J. Spaun
A shoulder injury forced Spaun to withdraw from the season finale. He won the Valero Texas Open and posted four top 10s in 2026, but this injury could cost him a Presidents Cup captain's pick. Brandt Snedeker has a decision to make, and Spaun's absence from East Lake does not help his case.
Winner: Min Woo Lee
Lee opened the Tour Championship with a blistering 8-under 62, one of only two such rounds all week. He finished T4, his fifth top 10 of the season, and nearly locked his spot on the International Team for the Presidents Cup. When the pressure is on, Lee delivers.
Winner: The New FedEx Cup Playoff Format
The current starting strokes format gave the top seeds a cushion but left the bottom of the field with little hope. The PGA Tour heard the complaints and is changing course. Starting in 2028, the top 90 advance to the Championship Series Finale, and the top 32 battle in a two-week Tour Championship featuring the return of match play. Fans demanded it, and the tour delivered. Tradition matters, and next season will be the last of the old guard.
FAQ
Who won the 2026 FedEx Cup?
Scottie Scheffler won the 2026 FedEx Cup, his second title in three years, finishing at 16-under par at East Lake Golf Club.
What is the new FedEx Cup playoff format?
Starting in 2028, the top 90 players advance to the Championship Series Finale, and the top 32 compete in a two-week Tour Championship that brings back match play.
Who are the top contenders for the Presidents Cup?
Chris Gotterup is a likely captain's pick for Team USA, while Min Woo Lee has nearly secured his spot on the International Team. J.J. Spaun's injury puts his status in question.