PGA TOUR WINNER RULED OUT OF FEDEXCUP PLAYOFFS AS FOUR-TIME WINNER WITHDRAWS FROM ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2026 FedExCup Playoffs have suffered an early blow after four-time PGA TOUR winner Daniel Berger was forced to withdraw from the FedEx St. Jude Championship because of injury.
Berger had earned his place in the playoffs for the second consecutive season, but his hopes of continuing his postseason run came to an abrupt end before the opening event at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. The PGA TOUR confirmed that the 33-year-old would not compete in the first playoff tournament, leaving the field at 69 players instead of the expected 70. (Reuters)
The withdrawal is particularly disappointing for Berger, who finished 60th in the FedExCup standings and had been looking to build on his return to competitive golf after dealing with a serious back injury.
Berger’s playoff hopes come to an end
The FedEx St. Jude Championship represents the opening stage of the FedExCup Playoffs, with the field reduced from 70 players to the top 50 after the tournament.
Because Berger is unable to compete in Memphis, he cannot earn the points necessary to remain inside the top 50. As a result, his 2026 FedExCup playoff campaign is effectively over after just one event.
The PGA TOUR confirmed that Berger’s withdrawal was injury-related. He has struggled with his health in recent years, with a serious back problem previously keeping him away from competition for nearly two years. He returned to the PGA TOUR in 2024 and has been working his way back toward his previous level. (Reuters)
His latest setback comes after another difficult stretch. Berger also withdrew from the Wyndham Championship and has not competed since the Open Championship in July.
A frustrating setback for the four-time winner
Berger’s absence is a significant blow because of the experience he brings to the PGA TOUR.
The American has four TOUR victories to his name, with his most recent triumph coming at the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He has also established himself as a player capable of competing against the strongest fields when healthy.
His career has been interrupted by injuries, however, and his latest setback represents another frustrating chapter.
Berger’s return to the PGA TOUR was already viewed as a remarkable comeback following his lengthy absence. His back problems became so severe that he stepped away from the game after the 2022 U.S. Open, eventually returning to competition in 2024. (Reuters)
Since returning, he has gradually rebuilt his game and regained his place among the TOUR’s best players.
Berger had made the playoffs for the second straight year
Despite his injury concerns, Berger managed to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs again in 2026.
He entered the postseason ranked 60th in the FedExCup standings, giving him a place in the 70-man field at TPC Southwind.
That made the St. Jude Championship particularly important. With only the top 50 players moving on to the BMW Championship, Berger needed a strong performance in Memphis to climb the standings and keep his postseason hopes alive.
Instead, his injury has forced him to sit out.
The PGA TOUR’s playoff format leaves little room for players who miss an event. Unlike regular-season tournaments, the playoff fields are determined by qualification and there are no ordinary opportunities to simply replace a player and continue the competition elsewhere. (Reuters)
A difficult road back
Berger’s latest withdrawal also highlights just how challenging his comeback has been.
Before his extended absence, Berger had established himself as one of the more consistent American players on TOUR. He reached a career-high position inside the world’s top 10 and became a regular presence in major championships and high-profile PGA TOUR events.
But persistent back problems changed the trajectory of his career.
After returning in 2024, Berger had to rebuild his confidence and physical condition while adjusting to the demands of professional golf once again. His ability to qualify for consecutive FedExCup Playoffs showed that he was making meaningful progress.
Now, another injury has interrupted that momentum.
The FedExCup Playoffs continue without him
While Berger will be watching from the sidelines, the rest of the field has begun its battle at TPC Southwind.
The 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship features many of the biggest names in professional golf, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. The tournament runs from August 13 through August 16 and carries a $20 million purse, with $3.6 million going to the winner. (Talksport)
The top 50 players following the St. Jude Championship will advance to the BMW Championship, while the field will then be reduced to 30 for the season-ending TOUR Championship.
For Berger, however, the path has already closed.
His withdrawal means he will not have the opportunity to fight his way into the BMW Championship, ending what had been a promising second consecutive playoff appearance.
Another reminder of the unpredictable nature of golf
Berger’s situation is a reminder of how quickly circumstances can change on the PGA TOUR.
After battling his way back from a serious injury and qualifying for the playoffs once again, the four-time winner was hoping to make the most of another postseason opportunity.
Instead, injury has once again forced him to the sidelines.
For a player who has already endured a lengthy road back to professional golf, the latest setback will undoubtedly be frustrating. But Berger’s return to the playoffs in 2025 and 2026 demonstrates that he remains capable of competing at the highest level when his body allows him to do so.
For now, his priority will be recovering and getting healthy.
The FedExCup Playoffs will move forward without one of the TOUR’s experienced four-time winners, while Berger will be left to watch from home as the remaining players battle for a place in the BMW Championship and, ultimately, the FedExCup title.
Caption
Daniel Berger’s FedExCup playoff hopes have come to an abrupt end. 🏌️♂️
The four-time PGA TOUR winner has withdrawn from the FedEx St. Jude Championship because of injury, ruling him out of the opening playoff event and preventing him from making the push needed to advance to the BMW Championship. After fighting his way back from a serious back injury and qualifying for the playoffs for a second straight year, Berger now faces another frustrating setback at a crucial point in the season. [oai_citation:0‡Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/sports/golf/daniel-berger-out-fedexcup-playoff-opener-due-injury–flm-2026-08-11/?utm_source=chatgpt.c
