FedExCup Playoffs: How PGA Tour series works as Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and more eye trophies and cash

Watch the FedExCup Playoffs live on Sky Sports, starting with FedEx St Jude Championship from Thursday; top 50 players advance to BMW Championship before leading 30 reach Tour Championship and have chance to take $25m top prize

We have reached the FedExCup Playoffs on the PGA Tour once again with just 70 players left in the running to become this year’s champion – and a hell of a lot richer.

Ahead of the opening playoff event – the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis,live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm on Thursday – we explain how the whole thing works, which players are at the top of the standings and who has plenty of work to do…

What is the FedExCup?

It is the season-long points competition on the PGA Tour that ends with one player – the winner of the Tour Championship – scooping $25m (£19.6m).

How do the playoffs work?

The top 70 players after the Wyndham Championship in early August advanced to the first playoff event, the FedEx St Jude Championship at TPC Southwind.

The top 50 after that tournament qualify for the BMW Championship in Denver the following week, with the top 30 then progressing to the Tour Championship finale in Atlanta.