Notable FedEx Cup ‘Bubble Boys’

Where on earth did that time go? It feels like just a month ago that we were watching Rory stalk the Augusta fairways in search of his 2nd successive Green Jacket. This season has felt somewhat surreal and anticlimactic. Rory has barely seen fit to deign the tour with his presence while runaway FedEx Cup points leader Scottie Scheffler hasn’t been able to secure the 2nd win that would have underlined his dominance.

In any event, this week’s Wyndham Championship certainly raises the stakes. Players will be desperately jostling for position in that final mad dash up the FedEx Cup standings. Only the top 70 will move on to the first leg of this season’s FedEx Cup playoffs (next week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee). I thought I would look at some of the more interesting narratives percolating around this year’s dreaded ‘bubble’. This could prove a defining week for each of the following names.

Aldrich Potgieter (65th)

2025 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Aldrich Potgieter is pretty much the living embodiment of Happy Gilmore. The South African gunslinger currently leads the PGA Tour in Driving Distance, lighting the candle to the tune of 330.4 yards per drive (wow). But a glance at his other stats is rather telling: Potgieter currently ranks 121st in SG: Approach, 150th in SG: Around the Green and 104th in SG: Putting. I just don’t see him posing much of a threat on a course that prioritizes positional awareness, accuracy and strong mid-iron play. Potgieter has missed four of his last five cuts and I wouldn’t be surprised if he does so again.

Jackson Koivun (70th)

The fact that Jackson Koivun is the current ‘bubble-boy’ tells you everything you need to know about his meteoric rise. The collegiate sensation will only be making his 5th professional start this week! He won the 3M Open in just his 3rd professional start, earning comparisons to fellow early bloomers like Russel Henley and Seve Ballesteros. Koivun knows that he has what it takes to be competitive around Sedgefield Country Club, finishing in a tie for 5th as an amateur just last season. Koivun should breeze into this year’s FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Jason Day (75th)

Jason Day’s injury woes have become the stuff of unwanted legend. The former World No.1 looked set to dominate world golf after claiming victory at the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. He pioneered new levels of excellence, becoming the first man in history to finish 20-under-par in a major championship. But Day has struggled to stay a 100% fit. Still, the Aussie always seems to eke out a place in the FedEx Cup playoffs, qualifying in each of the last 19 successive seasons (the longest active streak on tour). I unfortunately think his amazing stretch is about to end. Day is listed for the event but did pull out of both the 3M Open and Rocket Classic due to a back issue. The Aussie needs to finish in a two-way toe for 12th or better to climb into the top 70. The problem? He hasn’t finished better than T38 since the Masters. This feels like the end of an era.

Brooks Koepka (86th)

Brooks Koepka’s much-ballyhooed return to the PGA Tour has felt as culturally relevant as the latest Moana live-action remake. That is to say: not relevant at all. In fact, the four-time major winner’s anaemic return to tour serves as a savage indictment of the standard of golf currently being played on LIV. Currently sitting a lowly 86th in the FedEx Cup rankings, Koepka will need to finish solo 4th or better to make the playoffs. Moreover, he will not be permitted to accept sponsor’s exemptions into next year’s signature events (as per his PGA Tour reintegration agreement). So, he looks set to miss out on next year’s Signature Events if he doesn’t wake from his slumber in North Carolina (you need to finish in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings to automatically qualify for the Signature Events). I have a feeling that Koepka, who has a penchant for performing when it matters, could pull off something special this week.