With the FedExCup playoffs set to begin in two weeks, the PGA Tour has created a secondary points list for eligibility. This list will remove those who have been suspended indefinitely by the Tour – but have not resigned membership – for participating in LIV Golf events.
According to a memo sent to players from Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, the circuit moved to ensure “that suspended members do not negatively impact other players’ tournament eligibility, positioning on the priority rankings or eligibility to compete in the FedExCup playoffs.”
The policy board has approved the creation of an “eligibility points list,” which removes suspended players from the FedExCup list. The regular-season points list sets the criteria for the playoffs (the top 125 qualify for the first post-season event) as well as players’ status for next season.
“While the new list will not take the place of the official FedExCup points list, it will provide clarity for players and fans alike in regard to tournament eligibility, including the FedExCup playoffs and priority rankings for the 2022-2023 season,” the memo read.
Here is a look at the Tour’s playoff eligibility list entering this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Along with the memo, the Tour sent players the most recent eligibility points list that has removed the suspended players. The 125th-ranked player on the new list is Stephan Jaeger, who is ranked No. 133 on the regular-season FedExCup points list. Webb Simpson, No. 125 on the FedExCup list, is now 117th on the eligibility list.
Here’s a look at the players who have been removed from the eligibility list (FEC standing in parentheses):
Talor Gooch (20)
Matt Jones (62)
Hudson Swafford (63)
Matthew Wolff (70)
Abraham Ancer (80)
Carlos Ortiz (100)
Brooks Koepka (102)
Pat Perez (121)
The number will further change after this week when Jason Kokrak (currently 40th on eligibility list), Charles Howell III (99) and Paul Casey (127) make their LIV Golf debuts on Friday. The trio is expected to subsequently be suspended and removed from the eligibility list. That would move the target line to No. 136 in the original FedExCup standings.
Players react to new FedExCup eligibility changes
“We have taken steps to ensure that at the conclusion of the FedExCup regular season and FedExCup playoffs, any suspended players will not negatively impact bonus money distributions to you,” the memo read. “You will be awarded bonus money based on your final position on the FedExCup playoffs and eligibility points list; suspended members will be awarded bonus money based on their final position on the official FedExCup points list.”
The memo also attempted to clarify the eligibility for this year’s Presidents Cup, explaining “only players who are eligible for tournament play may compete in the Presidents Cup, regardless of membership status.” This would exclude those who have been suspended for playing the Saudi-backed LIV league from playing this year’s event.
CALGARY – The Calgary Flames have re-signed defenceman Ilya Solovyov and centre Cole Schwindt, the NHL club announced Wednesday.
Solovyov signed a two-year deal which is a two-way contract in year one and a one-way deal in year two and carries an average annual value of US$775,000 at the NHL level.
Schwindt signed a one-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $800,000 at the NHL level.
The 24-year-old Solovyov, from Mogilev, Belarus, made his NHL debut last season and had three assists in 10 games for the Flames. He also had five goals and 10 assists in 51 games with the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers and added one goal in six Calder Cup playoff games.
Schwindt, from Kitchener, Ont., made his Flames debut last season and appeared in four games with the club.
The 23-year-old also had 14 goals and 22 assists in 66 regular-season games with the Wranglers and added a team-leading four goals, including one game-winning goal, in the playoffs.
Schwindt was selected by Florida in the third round, 81st overall, at the 2019 NHL draft. He came to Calgary in July 2022 along with forward Jonathan Huberdeau and defenceman MacKenzie Weegar in the trade that sent star forward Matthew Tkachuk to the Panthers.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning selected Victor Hedman as the team captain on Wednesday as training camp opened, making the big defenseman the successor to Steven Stamkos.
Hedman, who is going into his 16th season with Tampa Bay, was considered the obvious choice to get the “C” after the Lightning did not re-sign Stamkos and their longtime captain left to join Nashville.
“Victor is a cornerstone player that is extremely well respected by his teammates, coaches and peers across the NHL,” general manager Julien BriseBois said. “Over the past 15 seasons, he has been a world-class representative for our organization both on and off the ice. Victor embodies what it means to be a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning and is more than ready for this exciting opportunity. We are looking forward to watching him flourish in his new role as we continue to work towards our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”
The 33-year-old from Sweden was a key contributor in the Lightning hoisting the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21, including playoff MVP honors on the first of those championship runs. Hedman also took home the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman in 2018 and finished in the top three in voting five other seasons.
Ryan McDonagh, who was reacquired early in the offseason in a trade with the Predators, and MVP finalist Nikita Kucherov will serve as alternate captains with the Lightning moving on to the post-Stamkos era.
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday that defenceman Alex Edler will sign a one-day contract in order to officially retire as a member of the NHL team.
The signing will be part of a celebration of Edler’s career held Oct. 11 when the Canucks host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canucks selected Edler, from Ostersund, Sweden, in the third round (91st overall) of the 2004 NHL draft.
He played in 925 career games for the Canucks between the 2006-07 and 2020-21 seasons, ranking fourth in franchise history and first among defencemen.
The 38-year-old leads all Vancouver defencemen with 99 goals, 310 assists and 177 power-play points with the team.
Edler also appeared in 82 career post-season contests with Vancouver and was an integral part of the Canucks’ run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final, putting up 11 points (2-9-11) across 25 games.
“I am humbled and honoured to officially end my career and retire as a member of the Vancouver Canucks,” Edler said in a release. “I consider myself lucky to have started my career with such an outstanding organization, in this amazing city, with the best fans in the NHL. Finishing my NHL career where it all began is something very special for myself and my family.”
Edler played two seasons for Los Angeles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He did not play in the NHL last season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
