Rickie Fowler has the distinction of being this week's "Bubble Boy" as he enters the BMW Championship, the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Fowler, 37, will tee off at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis at No. 30 in the season-long points standings, and only the top 30 advance to East Lake in Atlanta for the Tour Championship.
A lot is riding on the line for the 50-man field this week. While making the BMW Championship came with a big carrot — entry into all of the signature events next season — making the FedEx Cup finale offers its own set of rewards. The field will be whittled down to 30, all of whom will qualify for next year's men's majors. All 30 also get a two-year PGA Tour exemption.
much is on the line? What does the winner get?
The Tour also will pay out nearly $100 million in FedEx Cup bonus money after this week. Scheffler already is a mathematical lock to be No. 1 after the BMW and collect another $22 million. In other words, this week is kind of a big deal. Plus, make it to Atlanta, and for the second straight year in a row there will be no staggered start, meaning FedEx Cup points leader Scottie Scheffler doesn't get an advantage. Everyone starts at even, and the low 72-hole stroke-play aggregate score takes home the trophy, even if it happens to be the Bubble Boy.
Let's take a look at the minimum finish required for players to make it to East Lake.
Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rickie Fowler faces FedEx Cup playoff pressure as the 'Bubble Boy' at BMW Championship
