The PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoffs begin on Aug. 7 with the FedEx St. Jude Championship at the TPC Southwind in Memphis. Except No. 2 Rory McIlroy, all of the players among the top 70 on the points list are present and ready to go. Cameron Young's victory last week in the Wyndham Championship capped the regular season.

When Golf Digest wrote about the inception of the FedEx Cup Playoffs in 2007, we raised a point that's still relevant today: Does a big cash prize provide enough incentive to compete?

There’s been no shortage of talk ahead of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, especially with Rory McIlroy opting to skip this week’s event in Memphis. The PGA Tour will be hoping the FedEx Cup playoffs deliver a strong finish to this part of the season,