Inside the FedExCup: PGA Championship

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Tiger Woods needs to make his move this week if he wants to claim a spot in this year's Playoffs.

Just two weeks remain in the regular season, with the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup set to begin the week of Aug. 22. Here's a look at some of the key scenarios, notables and players going into this week's PGA Championship.
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SCENARIOS
A brief look at the No. 1, top 10, top 30 and top 125 possibilities

NO. 1 -- Nick Watney enters the PGA Championship atop the FedExCup standings, but the next 11 players behind him each has the opportunity to replace Watney in the top spot with a win at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Also, No. 2 Steve Stricker and No. 3 Luke Donald could move to No. 1 with just a top-10 finish, while No. 4 K.J. Choi, No. 5 Phil Mickelson and No. 6 Bubba Watson also have scenarios in which each could be No. 1 without having to win the tournament.

TOP 10 -- Any player who ranks 11-43 in points could move into the top 10 with a win and any player from 11 to 23 has a scenario in which he could move into the top 10 without having to win. For instance, Charl Schwartzel is 23rd in points but could move to 7th with a second-place finish.

TOP 30 -- Players need to be in the top 30 after the third Playoffs event, the BMW Championship, in order to advance to the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, the tournament in which the FedExCup champion is crowned. Any player ranked inside the top 112 in points could move into the top 30 with a win. A few notables who fit this category include Vijay Singh (No. 40), Sergio Garcia (No. 64), defending FedExCup champion Jim Furyk (No. 73) and that last player on this list, Ian Poulter (No. 112).

TOP 125 -- Players need to be in the top 125 after the Wyndham Championship in order to make the Playoffs. For those players who are opting not to play the Wyndham Championship next week, this will be their last chance to secure a spot inside the top 125. A top-10 finish for most -- but not all -- players currently outside the top 125 would move them inside the cutline. Some of those include Ernie Els (126), Justin Leonard (142), Louis Oosthuizen (145) and Paul Casey (147). Camilo Villegas is currently sitting on the bubble at 125.

NOTABLES IN NEED
Well-known players playing this week who need to improve their FedExCup position

TIGER WOODS -- The two-time FedExCup champion is not planning to play the Wyndham Championship, so if he wants to make the Playoffs, he'll need to make his move this week. A finish of 14th or better should give him enough points to get inside the top 125, based on last year's points total.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON -- The 2008 PGA TOUR Player of the Year is currently in 130th. The Irishman would need to finish 12th or better this week to move inside the top 125.

ANGEL CABRERA -- The two-time major winner could move inside the top 125 with a fourth or better this week.

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Here's a look at a few players and how they achieved their FedExCup ranking this year

ZACH JOHNSON -- Seventeen weeks into the regular season, Johnson was sitting in 91st position in FedExCup points and coming off a couple of missed cuts. But then he went on a three-week run that included two top-10 finishes and another top-12, and he moved to 39th. He slipped as far back as 47th, but thanks to another hot stretch lately, he has moved to the key position of 30th going into the PGA Championship.

SCOTT PIERCY -- A week ago, Piercy was languishing in 137th place in the standings. A few days later, following his win at the Reno-Tahoe Open, Piercy not only moved to 80th in the standings, but he also earned a playing spot in the PGA Championship, a tournament where he wasn't otherwise exempt. The win in Nevada likely sewed up Piercy's spot in the Playoffs.

DAVID TOMS -- There should be good vibes for Toms this week as he returns to the Atlanta Athletic Club, the site of his only major championship title. Toms won the 2001 PGA Championship there. Entering this week's tournament, Toms is ranked 10th in the FedExCup standings and is one of 11 players who could pass Nick Watney and move into the No. 1 position if he is able to win the PGA Championship.