The Bubble Watch: Surprising Stars Outside the FedEx Cup Top 70
As the 2025 PGA Tour season barrels toward the summer, the FedEx Cup standings are starting to take shape, and, with them, the growing pressure to make the top 70 and qualify for the playoffs. Several surprising names are still on the outside looking in, including some who finished 2024 in the top 10. Whether it’s due to injuries, inconsistency, or just a lack of results when it counts, these stars have yet to live up to expectations this season. With a Ryder Cup looming and only a limited number of tournaments left to earn crucial points, the clock is ticking. Here are six players whose current FedEx Cup standing is surprisingly low compared to their 2024 finish, and why they might still make a push.
Sahith Theegala: Finished Third in 2024 – Currently 117th
After a strong 2024 season where he looked poised to take the next step, Sahith Theegala has taken a notable and surprising step back in 2025. He currently sits at 117th in the standings, having missed the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, withdrawn from the Truist and PGA Championship due to injury, and struggled to string together four good rounds. Theegala’s creativity and flair are still evident, but he’s struggled with consistency and decision-making in key moments. The raw talent is there, and it only takes one hot week for him to rocket up the rankings, but he’s quickly running out of time. If Theegala wants to make the playoffs, he’ll need to lock in now and start collecting top-20s at the very least.
Wyndham Clark: Finished 8th in 2024 – Currently 78th
Wyndham Clark’s fall from a top-10 finish in the 2024 FedEx Cup standings to outside the top 75 in 2025 has been one of the year’s biggest surprises. After a breakout season that included major contention and multiple wins, Clark has failed to find his rhythm this year. Despite the downturn, Clark still possesses the power and putting needed to compete at the highest level. Golf can often be a game of feel and some good vibes could easily change the trajectory of Clark’s year. A strong summer push could still salvage his season, but the window for turning it around is narrowing.
Matt Fitzpatrick: Finished 40th in 2024 – Currently 80th
Matt Fitzpatrick has been pretty ho-hum in 2025 and just hasn’t been good enough to replicate his 2023 top-10 FedEx Cup finish. Despite a solid performance at the PGA Championship, Fitzpatrick remains outside the playoff picture at 80th. His driving accuracy and iron play have been good, but not great, and he’s struggled to find consistency with the flatstick. He thrives on tight, demanding courses, and the upcoming schedule could offer some favorable venues. If he can recapture the gritty edge that defined his 2022 U.S. Open run, a late-season surge is still very much in play.
Max Homa: Finished 46th in 2024 – Currently 114th
Max Homa has gone from one of the Tour’s most reliable performers to one of its biggest mysteries in 2025. Despite his stellar 2023 season, where he finished ninth and was a weekly contender, Homa now finds himself well outside playoff positioning. His ball-striking has been erratic, and his short game has taken a noticeable dip, leading to missed cuts and underwhelming weekends. A T-12 at the Masters was a flash of the old Max, but he’ll need more than a single spark to climb back into the top 70. With his Ryder Cup hopes fading, this is a crucial stretch for Homa to rediscover his elite form.
Tom Kim: Finished 51st in 2024 – Currently 85th
Tom Kim was one of golf’s breakout stars in 2023, finishing inside the top 15 and establishing himself as a fan favorite and a consistent threat. 2025, however, has been a different story. He’s made some cuts and hovered near the top 30 at times, but he hasn’t truly contended in any marquee events. His iron play has remained fairly sharp, but his putter has cooled off and he’s lacked the closing power needed to convert chances into wins. Still just 22, Kim has the talent to rally, and with his fearless mindset, one hot week could catapult him up the rankings and back into playoff contention.
Rasmus Højgaard: PGA Tour Rookie – Currently 74th
Rasmus Højgaard hasn’t had a bad year by any means, but after a strong 2024 on the DP World Tour, expectations were much higher than his current 74th-place standing. He’s played well enough to stay around the bubble but hasn’t done enough to separate himself. His approach play has been solid, and he’s shown poise under pressure, but without a top-five finish in a signature event, he’s losing ground. The young Dane has the pedigree and game to go on a run, it’s just a matter of whether he can time it right. With so much riding on every start, the next month could define his rookie season on the PGA Tour.
Final Thoughts
The FedEx Cup race is always full of twists and turns, but seeing this many stars outside the top 70 at this point in the year is a surprise. Each of these players has proven they can compete at the highest level, but in a year full of parity and playoff pressure, their margins for error are razor thin. With Ryder Cup implications hanging over every leaderboard and points harder to come by in signature events, the time to turn things around is now. For Clark, Homa, Kim, and the rest, the mission is clear; reclaim form, earn points, and secure their place in the playoffs. The question is: who will rise, and who will fall just short?
