2014 FedEx Cup: Biggest Winners and Losers from Golf's Postseason
It's no secret who the biggest winner of the 2014 FedEx Cup playoffs is. (Hint: he's the guy who won the FedEx Cup playoffs.)
However, a number of other golfers join the scalding hot Mr. Horschel on the winner's side of the ledger for a variety of reasons you'll have to click through to see spelled out.
A few weary souls saw the end-of-season grind get the better of them, and one high-profile golfer stomped home like an angry toddler to earn his spot on the less desirable side of this rundown.
Keep reading for all the winners and losers from the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Loser: Rory McIlroy
1 of 9
Final FedEx Cup standing: 3
The Barclays: T22
Deutsche Bank Championship: T5
BMW Championship: T8
Tour Championship: T2
Why he's a loser
Rory McIlroy entered the FedEx Cup on a three-tournament win streak and as winner of the last two majors. He finished the 2014 FedEx Cup in third position. Although he didn't win a playoff event, he finished inside the top 10 in three of the four events.
A final-round one-over 71 at the Tour Championship, however, is what makes Rory McIlroy an unfortunate loser in this ranking. As the best golfer in the world, he wanted to win the FedEx Cup. He didn't do it. Thus, in his own eyes, Rory McIlroy must be a 2014 FedEx Cup playoffs loser.
Winner: Billy Horschel
2 of 9
Final FedEx Cup standing: 1
The Barclays: CUT
Deutsche Bank Championship: T2
BMW Championship: 1
Tour Championship: 1
Why he's a winner
After missing the cut at the first playoff event, Billy Horschel was one poorly struck approach shot away from winning the Deutsche Bank Championship.
All he did in the next to two playoff events was win them both.
Pretty clearly, Billy Horschel is the big winner on this list: He won the $10 million FedEx Cup annuity as well as the $1.25 million first-place share of the Tour Championship purse in addition to winning a total of more than $13 million for his playoff efforts.
In addition, he's now arguably the best American golfer in the world right now, and, even better, he's about to become a father for the first time.
Loser: Jason Day
3 of 9
Final FedEx Cup standing: 10
The Barclays: T2
Deutsche Bank Championship: T7
BMW Championship: W/D
Tour Championship: T4
Why he's a loser
Jason Day has lost out during the playoffs thanks to a noncompliant body. Day entered the playoffs dealing with a lingering thumb issue. He also had a spell of vertigo that forced a withdrawal from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at the beginning of August.
After strong performances at The Barclays (T2) and the Deutsche Bank Championship (T7), Day again had to withdraw at the third playoff event. This time, the Australian's back was this issue, and there was doubt that he'd even be able to tee it up in Atlanta.
At East Lake, Day availed himself nicely. However, he lost out this year because of injury.
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Winner: Ryan Palmer
4 of 9
Final FedEx Cup standing: 14
The Barclays: T74
Deutsche Bank Championship: T16
BMW Championship: T4
Tour Championship: 7
Why he's a winner
Ryan Palmer's 2013-2014 season entering the FedEx Cup playoffs was defined by an inspired showing at the PGA Championship and a pair of second-place finishes. However, with steadily improving results in the playoffs and a top-10 finish at the Tour Championship, Palmer found his form late in the season.
Prior to the fifth-place finish at the PGA Championship, we didn't expect much from Ryan Palmer entering the playoffs. After a solid campaign, the Texas native finished inside the the top 15 in the final cup standings.
Loser: Jimmy Walker
5 of 9
Final FedEx Cup standing: 6
The Barclays: Cut
Deutsche Bank Championship: T9
BMW Championship: T20
Tour Championship: T17
Why he's a loser
Relative to the rest of his career, Jimmy Walker overperformed with his three victories in the opening third of the 2013-2014 season. However, relative to the strength of the beginning of his campaign this year, the FedEx Cup was a disappointment for the Oklahoma native. In a sense, then, the first-time Ryder Cupper is both a winner and a loser.
Walker is unfortunately going to have to answer questions about whether his play at the beginning of the season was a fluke. After quality play in the majors, it seemed he'd be able to cobble together another win this year, instead he slid from his top perch in the FedEx Cup standings and ultimately finished sixth.
Even though he didn't win, this was a breakout season for Jimmy Walker.
Winner: Morgan Hoffmann
6 of 9
Final FedEx Cup standing: 26
The Barclays: T9
Deutsche Bank Championship: T35
BMW Championship: 3
Tour Championship: 28
Why he's a winner
While he finished second-to-last at the Tour Championship, Morgan Hoffman is a winner as he beat the odds to even make it to the season's final event. Speaking of second-to-last, Hoffman was the 124th of 125 players to qualify for The Barclays. His tie for ninth in his native New Jersey propelled him on in the playoffs.
Hoffman again stated his case at the BMW Championship, where he finished third thanks to blistering weekend rounds of 62, 63. With his improbable run, the 25-year-old has indicated he's a player to watch entering his third PGA Tour season.
Loser: Jordan Spieth
7 of 9
Final FedEx Cup standing: 14
The Barclays: T22
Deutsche Bank Championship: T29
BMW Championship: T8
Tour Championship: 27
Why he's a loser
After a solid performance at the BMW Championship, Jordan Spieth returned to a venue where he had played well previously. Spieth tied for second at the Tour Championship in 2013. This year, he shot the second-worst score at East Lake.
While his overall playoff performance was respectable, to come in to the final playoff event as a favorite to win on the heels of a strong finish and lay an egg is not an indication of elite status, which Spieth was beginning to suggest he was in possession of.
Winner: Dustin Johnson
8 of 9
Final FedEx Cup standing: 30
The Barclays: N/A
Deutsche Bank Championship: N/A
BMW Championship: N/A
Tour Championship: N/A
Why he's a winner
Dustin Johnson is a winner for a simple reason: Thanks to his strong early season play, he collected money from the FedEx Cup bonus pool without teeing it up in a FedEx Cup playoff event. Johnson, of course, announced a much discussed leave of absence at the beginning of August and hasn't played golf since the end of July.
Earning a spot in the Tour Championship and $175,000 in 30th-place bonus cash without actually having to play golf is a pretty sweet deal indeed.
Loser: Phil Mickelson
9 of 9
Final FedEx Cup standing: 68
The Barclays: 78
Deutsche Bank Championship: T45
BMW Championship: W/D
Tour Championship: N/A
Why he's a loser
As Phil Mickelson said when he withdrew from the BMW Championship, "My primary goal is to rest and prepare for the Ryder Cup. Without a chance to contend at the Tour Championship, the most important thing for me now is to prepare for the Ryder Cup." (per Kyle Porter of CBS Sports).
Lefty wasn't in contention at Colorado and wasn't going to advance to the Tour Championship, so he bagged it to get some extra rest.
Mickelson has never made a secret of his feeling that the FedEx Cup playoffs should have a rest week slotted somewhere between the four events, and he made his point emphatically again this year.
Regardless of how he plays in the Ryder Cup thanks to the extra rest, Mickelson's opt out of finishing at Cherry Hills wasn't exactly the hallmark of a winner.
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