Henrik Stenson the 7th defending champ in 8 years to miss FedEx Cup playoff

Don't expect a golfer to repeat as a FedEx Cup champion any time in the near future.

With a -3, 277 round at the BMW Championship at Cherry Hills this weekend, defending FedEx Cup champion Henrik Stenson earned just 228 FedEx points, leaving him in just 52nd in the cup standings following the tournament.

As a result, Stenson won't have a chance to defend his title at the Tour Championship, as only the top-30 in the standings are afforded the opportunity. He becomes the seventh reigning champion in the eight years the FedEx Cup playoffs have existed to miss the playoff finale the following season, with only Brandt Snedeker (2012 champion) returning to the finale the following season.

For his part, Stenson doesn't seem too broken up about it:

"I'm in desperate need of some rest. I was in a win-win situation in that sense, coming in here I needed a really strong week to have a chance to come back. Of course it's a little disappointing not making it back. East Lake is a really great golf course and I would really like to come back and defend and play it again.

"But it wasn't to be this year. But I finally get a bit of a break. You know, if you've got guys who are playing 66 percent of my schedule that are worn out and struggling, I guess you can understand that I'm a little bit fatigued as well."

Stenson will now turn his attention to the Ryder Cup, which kicks off on Sept. 26, affording him a few weeks of downtime.