Every season in professional golf is a story of its own, and every shot counts. The 2024 FedEx Cup Playoffs, which are always a test of the best golfers, have again come with some twists. This year, many golf stars have failed to make it into the playoffs, and this has caused quite a stir in the golfing world.

They are not just any players—they are fan favorites, seasoned veterans, and young talents who are now out for this season. Here are the 5 most shocking golfers who missed out on the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

1. Rickie Fowler’s family focus

One of the most colorful players in the circuit, Rickie Fowler, is missing from the FedExCup Playoffs. But this year, he had other things on his mind. Rickie Fowler did not play in the Wyndham Championship due to the birth of his second child, Nellie. The photo of the couple’s family that Fowler posted on Instagram reveals the happiness of the growing family. “My Family!! Right where I’m supposed to be,” Fowler posted on Instagram.

Fowler’s decision to miss the season final is a change of tact despite his successful career so far. He finished the year 2023 ranked 16th in the FedExCup and claimed the Rocket Mortgage Classic. However, a poor 2024 season meant that he only managed to end the year in 102nd place.

2. Matt Kuchar ends his stunning streak

It was the end of an era for Matt Kuchar in the 2024 season. Before this year, Matt Kuchar had been in the FedEx Cup Playoffs every year since the start of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. His record of playing in 17 successive appearances was an indication of his skills on the PGA Tour. But as they say, every streak has to be broken at some point in time, and this was the time.

His only good performance this year was a tie for 12th place at the RBC Heritage, and this was not enough to place him in the top 70 of the FedExCup Playoffs. Matt Kuchar is ranked 113 at the FedEx Cup, and only the top 70 make their way to the three-event playoffs. He finished his last hole on Monday and scored par on the 18th. His decision pushed the Wyndham championship to the Monday finish, which fans did not appreciate much.

3. Davis Riley’s young talent gets a bitter experience

Davis Riley is 27 years old and is one of the most promising young talents on the PGA Tour. His natural hitting ability and unflappable personality have earned him comparisons to some of the all-time greats, and his triumph at the Charles Schwab Challenge 2024 earlier this year appeared to mark him as a burgeoning superstar. However, this was as far as Riley’s charge to the FedEx Cup Playoffs got, as he failed to qualify.

Riley’s game was a game of fluctuations throughout the season, where he experienced both the best moments and the worst moments. He failed to make a consistent run in the tournament and could only manage 72nd in the overall ranking. “I feel like I definitely gave it a good shot,” Davis Riley said, frowning but not backing down. Talking about his year, the golfer said, “Yeah, it was a very weird year.”

4. Lucas Glover’s downfall as a champion

Lucas Glover is one of the few players who can describe the highs and lows of a professional golfer’s life. The 2009 U.S. Open champion and the winner of last year’s FedEx St. Jude Championship 2023 is a man who knows the taste of victory and the bitterness of failure. But in 2024, however, Lucas Glover’s season turned sharply in the wrong direction.

Although Lucas Glover achieved a hole-in-one in the Wyndham Championship, he struggled for most of the season. Six missed cuts in 14 starts saw him struggling to get back to form, but it was all in vain. Lucas Glover ended the season ranked 76 in the FedExCup standings, which means he failed to qualify for the playoffs, which require a top-70 standing.

5. Nicolai Højgaard’s growing pains as a rising star

Nicolai Højgaard is one of the young talents in the golfing world and is only 23. He has competed on the PGA Tour, and the young Danish golfer has all the makings of a future star. But the 2024 season was a harsh lesson that even the most gifted players have to go through growing pains.

Nicolai Højgaard’s year was filled with opportunities; he tied for 16th in his first Masters and finished a solid seventh at the Olympics. However, inconsistency was his bane, and he failed to maintain a good show throughout the season and was ranked 80th in the FedExCup standings, which was outside the playoff cutline. “I haven’t had my best stuff on the course this year. But I think I’m on the right track,” said the golfer.

Now that the field for the FedEx Cup Playoffs is set, what are your thoughts on the ones who missed it?