In an effort to reduce his overall workload on the season, Masters champion Rory McIlroy decided not to play in this week's St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. As such, the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs will run with 69 of the top 70 players in the world -- McIlroy the lone missing piece from the start of the three-week postseason.

Rory McIlroy was hot and tired when he finished the FedEx St. Jude Championship last year. He was No. 3 in the FedEx Cup. He beat only one player at the TPC Southwind and tied for 68th, finishing 26 shots behind. He dropped all the way to No. 5.

The top 50 after four rounds at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, will make it to the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland. The top 30, thereafter, will be eligible for the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.