Rory McIlroy opted to skip the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first of three FedEx Cup play-off events, but saw his PGA Tour money list lead over J.J. Spaun cut significantly

Rory McIlroy is paying the price(Image: 2024 Getty Images)

J.J. Spaun has narrowed the money list gap to Rory McIlroy, who sits in second place, bringing it to less than $4 million after securing a runner-up finish at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

The Masters champion had chosen to sit out the opening FedEx Cup playoff tournament at TPC Southwind, having declared last November that he would play a lighter schedule. Meanwhile, Spaun, coming off his recent U.S. Open triumph, delivered an impressive second-place showing in Memphis.

McIlroy will be back in action at this week’s BMW Championship, but his cushion over Spaun on the PGA Tour earnings chart has been trimmed to under $4M, with two high-paying tournaments still on the horizon.

Before the FedEx St. Jude, McIlroy had already secured his playoff spot with ease and, recalling his near-bottom finish there a year ago, opted to skip the event entirely.

He had maintained a firm hold on second in the earnings race, collecting just under $16.1M this season, trailing world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by about $4M. Scheffler has topped the money list for the past three seasons.

Earlier this year, Spaun had also gone head-to-head with McIlroy at the Players Championship, losing via a playoff. In Memphis, he again ended regulation tied for the lead – this time against Justin Rose. Although Rose emerged victorious after a tense three-hole sudden-death playoff, Spaun still earned $2.2m for the week, lifting his yearly total to an impressive $12.2M.

J.J. Spaun placed second at the FedEx St. Jude which Rory McIlroy skipped(Image: Getty)

With less than $4M now between them, the BMW Championship and Tour Championship remain crucial. The BMW offers one of the richest prize pools on Tour, with the champion earning close to $4M.

That, however, pales in comparison to the Tour Championship finale, where the winner’s payout nears $10.1M. If Spaun manages to significantly outperform McIlroy in either event – though the odds are long – he could overtake the 36-year-old.

McIlroy, a past money list leader in 2012 and 2014, now finds himself defending not just his position but also bragging rights, while still having an outside shot at catching Scheffler. Spaun admitted to mixed emotions after Sunday’s playoff loss to Rose, despite the boost to his ranking, and reflected on the seven-foot putt that cost him the victory.

Spaun is closing in on McIlroy when it comes to the PGA Tour money list(Image: Getty Images)

“It sucks to miss a 7-footer,” Spaun said. “Tricky read, and it pulled it a little bit. But yeah, I hung in there the best I could, and he beat me to the hole first. Just wasn’t meant to be.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into me, honestly,” he continued when asked about his resurgent season, which saw him clinch his first major title.

“I think I’m just content with what I’ve done in this game and now it’s just kind of free rolling. Just trying to win, and I think that’s a freeing mentality to have.”