The 2026 FedEx Cup playoffs are upon us, and with them, the excitement and anticipation of the PGA Tour's elite battling it out for the ultimate prize. However, amidst the buzz, there's a sobering reality for some of the sport's biggest names. The Wyndham Championship, the final event before the playoffs, has left several star players on the outside looking in. These seven PGA Tour stars, each with their own unique story, have missed the cut for the playoffs, leaving them to wait and see if they can turn their fortunes around in the fall events.
One of the most surprising stories is that of Brooks Koepka. The five-time major champion and former LIV Golf pro had a highly anticipated comeback in January through the short-lived Returning Member Program. However, Koepka's season never truly took off. Despite earning six top 25s, he failed to capture another top 10, finishing T9 at the Cognizant Classic as his best result. His T67 finish at the Wyndham Championship saw his ranking plunge further to 94th, leaving him out of the playoffs.
Keegan Bradley, who had a career rebound last season, winning the Travelers Championship and easily qualifying for the FedEx Cup playoffs, couldn't repeat his heroics in 2026. Influenced by his devastating loss as captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team last fall, Bradley couldn't earn a single top-10 finish all season long. Despite being ranked 72nd heading into the Wyndham, a T49th finish saw him drop to 74th, missing the playoffs by four spots.
Jason Day, the 13-time Tour winner and 2015 PGA champion, has struggled with injuries for years. Those injuries did not stop him from qualifying for the first two playoff events last season, but this season was a different story. Day finished runner-up behind Scottie Scheffler at the American Express in January, but that would be one of only two top 10s all year. His injuries flared up, and he missed the cut in three of his last five starts, including at the Wyndham Championship, falling to 82nd and missing the playoffs.
Tony Finau, who had never missed the FedEx Cup playoffs in his long career, only managed one top 10 in 2026. In his final three starts of the regular season, he went MC-T71-T61, falling all the way down to 98th in the FedEx Cup standings, ending his season early. Finau's struggles are a stark contrast to his past success, leaving fans and fellow players alike wondering what went wrong.
Billy Horschel, a 39-year-old with eight Tour event wins, has won the FedEx Cup before. However, for the second year in a row, Horschel won't even get the chance this season. After missing the playoffs last season while struggling with injury, Horschel wasn't much better in 2026, giving himself a harsh grade for his season: 'it's an F'. His valiant effort at the Wyndham Championship, ending T12, was only good enough to improve his ranking to 100th, leaving him out of the playoffs.
Joel Dahmen, one of the more popular players on the PGA Tour, has failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs for the fifth season in a row. While Dahmen did earn two top-10 finishes this season, he missed nine cuts. His long streak of poor play is a stark contrast to his past success, leaving fans and fellow players alike wondering what's next for the popular pro.
Finally, Steven Fisk, while not exactly a PGA Tour star, is a shocking omission from the playoffs. Fisk won a PGA Tour event this season, triumphing in a playoff at the ISCO Championship. His victory, the second of his career, vaulted him from 99th to 60th in the FedEx Cup standings. However, Fisk ended the season on a series of low notes, missing the cut in the final three starts of his season, including at the Wyndham Championship, to fall to 71st in the FedEx Cup standings. Fisk's story is a reminder that the PGA Tour is a highly competitive sport, and even the best can fall short.
These seven players, each with their own unique story, have missed the cut for the playoffs. Their struggles serve as a reminder that the PGA Tour is a highly competitive sport, and even the best can fall short. As the playoffs approach, these players will be looking to turn their fortunes around in the fall events, hoping to secure their place on the Tour for next season. In the meantime, fans and fellow players alike will be watching with bated breath, eager to see if these stars can bounce back and reclaim their place among the elite.
