FedEx St. Jude Championship Opens with 69-Man Field Due to Injury

The FedEx Cup playoffs began this week with an unusual 69-man field at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, following the withdrawal of Daniel Berger due to a back injury. The event, held at TPC Southwind, is notable for its reduced player count, as Berger, who qualified at No. 60 in the FedExCup standings, did not commit to participate.

PGA Tour Communications had confirmed the final 70-man field just a day prior to the event, but Berger's absence means his spot will remain unfilled, as there is no alternate list for the playoffs. This marks a significant change for the tournament, which will narrow the field to the top 50 players for the next playoff leg.

Berger's injury has sidelined him since the Wyndham Championship, where he also did not compete. His season concludes at this event, mirroring a similar situation from the previous year. The 69-man field is not without precedent, as Rory McIlroy's absence last year led to the same scenario, which had sparked considerable discussion.