5 golfers who need big week to make Tour Championship

In addition to serving as the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and awarding the winner a $1.7-million payout, the BMW Championship is the final opportunity for players outside the top 30 on the points list to secure their spot at the season finale.

It's more significant than ever before for players to reach the Tour Championship. Due to the shortened season, the top 30 in 2020 will automatically qualify for all four majors in 2021, as well as the 2021 Tournament of Champions and the WGC-Mexico Championship - there's also the chance to win the FedEx Cup and its massive $15-million prize.

Here are five notable golfers who need a big week at Olympia Fields to advance to East Lake (current FedEx Cup ranking in parentheses):

Patrick Cantlay (37th)

It's a rarity for Cantlay to be outside the top 30 at this point in the season. He's qualified fairly comfortably for the Tour Championship during each of the last three seasons.

But the 28-year-old has struggled since the restart, with only one top-10 showing in six starts, and he's trending in the wrong direction. His strokes gained: tee-to-green number - which is usually his biggest strength - has decreased in each of the last four weeks. Cantlay will need to reverse that trend if he has any hope of returning to East Lake for a fourth straight year.

Probability of advancing: 24.8%

Adam Scott (38th)

Scott is hurt by his lack of play on the PGA Tour this season. He won the Genesis Invitational in February but has only four starts since. He would be well inside the top 30 during a traditional year thanks to his propensity to perform in majors.

But Scott has some work to do now. He played relatively well at TPC Boston but lost over five strokes on the greens in Round 3, which ultimately ruined his push for a top-10 result. If Scott is on his game, Olympia Fields should play right into the hands of one of the purest swingers in the sport.

Probability of advancing: 15.6%

Gary Woodland (39th)

It would have been unfathomable a few months ago to suggest Woodland would be on the outside looking in at a Tour Championship spot. But, with one top-20 finish in his last seven starts and no consistency to his game, that's the position the reigning U.S. Open champion is in.

Woodland will need to make a major improvement with his tee-to-green play. Unfortunately, a tough setup at Olympia Fields might not be the best place for him to work out the kinks in his game.

Probability of advancing: 10.2%

Jason Day (50th)

Day's impressive run of four straight top-seven results came to an abrupt end last week in Boston with a surprising missed cut, during which his approach game was awful.

He should be in contention if he improves his putting and his iron play rebounds to where it was during the PGA Championship. However, if he reverts back to the player who fell to No. 63 in the world just a few weeks ago, his season will end in a few days.

Probability of advancing: 10.5%

Tiger Woods (57th)

Woods may not know the exact result he needs to move on to the Tour Championship, but he's focused on a finish that will guarantee his spot.

"I don't know what it's going to be, what the number is going to be for me to move on to East Lake, but obviously a W definitely gets it done," he said at The Northern Trust.

After failing to advance to last year's Tour Championship and defend his title, Woods will be hungry to return to the site of his first victory since 2013. And if he can carry his form from Sunday at TPC Boston - where he turned in his best strokes gained: total round of the year - to Olympia Fields, Woods will in the field for the final event of the season.

Probability of advancing: 8.3%

Probabilities provided by DataGolf.com