By Chris Harris Contributor
Updated 8/7/23 1:46pm ET
“The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,” a phrase heard many times from those old enough to have witnessed ABC’s Wide World of Sports in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. We may have a new image to accompany “The Agony of Defeat” montage after the recent Wyndham Championship in North Carolina. Justin Thomas, a former world No. 1 and two-time major champion, missed the FedExCup Playoffs in the most excruciating way possible.
Entering the regular-season finale, Thomas was No. 79 in the points standings and needed to crack the top 70 to qualify for the playoffs. Thomas needed one more birdie to qualify for the playoffs and extend his season, but his birdie chip, which was perfectly in line with the flag, hopped against the base of the pin and stayed out. Thomas then collapsed to the ground and laid motionless in complete disbelief.
Thomas did not know his ultimate fate when he spoke to reporters after the round as other golfers were still on the course. Standing at the back of the green, Thomas watch as the video board project him at No. 71 and he missed by nine FedExCup points. This is the first time Thomas has failed to make the playoffs. Thomas will now have to wait three weeks to see if his worst season will cost him a pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Thomas entered the week having missed five cuts in his last seven starts — he had a series of horrendous showings at the majors this season, which included two rounds over 80. Now, Thomas missed the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season in 2014, having won the FedEx Cup in 2017. Three weeks seems like a short time, but it will seem like a year for Thomas as he awaits to see if he will be one of the six picks by Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the updated standings. Remember, the top six automatically qualify before Johnson makes his captain’s picks. Those picks can be any golfers in the standings, though historically, there is an unspoken advantage given to those ranked 7-12 once play closes on the season.
2023 Ryder Cup standings: United States
| RANK | PLAYER | POINTS | POINTS FROM TOP 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scottie Scheffler | 25,741.74 | |
| 2 | Wyndham Clark | 13,366.12 | |
| 3 | Brian Harman | 10,194.54 | |
| 4 | Brooks Koepka | 9,421.15 | |
| 5 | Xander Schauffele | 8,671.98 | |
| 6 | Patrick Cantlay | 8,454.75 | |
| 7 | Max Homa | 8,264.48 | |
| 8 | Cameron Young | 7,679.31 | |
| 9 | Jordan Spieth | 7,482.05 | |
| 10 | Keegan Bradley | 7,422.34 | |
| 11 | Collin Morikawa | 7,116.81 | |
| 12 | Sam Burns | 6,956.30 | |
| 13 | Rickie Fowler | 6,892.09 | -64.21 |
| 14 | Justin Thomas | 6,539.20 | -417.1 |
| 15 | Denny McCarthy | 6,239.87 | -716.43 |
Each $1,000 earned in an event equals one point, and two of four remaining events this season (prior to the Tour Championship) are elevated events with first prizes of around $3 million (3,000 points).
Thomas was not alone in his disappointment, however. Adam Scott played admirably at the Wyndham Championship, but it was not enough and entered the final round in the same position he was in when he walked off the course at the beginning of the tournament: five-under for the championship. Scott’s seven-under 63 on the final day saw him charge up the leaderboard, finishing at 12-under for the championship. Scott’s performance in Greensboro is his fourth top 10 of the season, yet he will finish just outside the top 70 of the FedEx Cup standings, meaning the Australian will miss the PGA Tour’s postseason for the first time in his career.
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Photo credit: Shutterstock
