We are getting to the business end of the FedEx Cup playoffs, and the competition is set to be fierce when the remaining 70 players meet at Wilmington Country Club for the BMW Championship this week.

The top 30 in the rankings will head to East Lake for the Tour Championship next week, and the fact there will be a handicap system in operation in the battle for the $18m first prize means no one will be holding back at the Delaware course, which has never hosted a professional event.

Rory McIlroy looks set to go off as the favourite despite missing the cut in last week’s FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis.

The Northern Irishman finished in the top ten in six of his previous eight tournaments, and plenty of eyes will also be on Will Zalatoris, who won his first PGA Tour title last week to move to the top of the FedEx standings.

Rahm is showing his class

Jon Rahm has not made many headlines this year and may consider 2022 a disappointment as his only victory has come in the low-grade Mexican Open, but there was a lot to like about his fifth at TPC Southwind last week.

The Spaniard is also prominent in key statistics such as strokes-gained: off-the-tee, tee-to-green and in greens in regulation. These can all be key considerations on courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, where positioning on the fairways can be pivotal in the pursuit of success.

Rahm, who recently became a father for the second time, should also be highly motivated at 14th place in the rankings, as a strong performance could put him in an excellent position to be successful next week.

Im is flying under the radar

Sungjae Im was highly fancied to taste glory in Tennessee last week, and while the South Korean did not collect the prize, there was plenty to like about his performance, which was enough to earn a 12th-place finish.

Im had gone into that showdown having finished second in his last two tournaments at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and Wyndham Championship, and he had a firm grip on his Southwind test when he carded a Saturday 63.

Like Rahm, he can push himself right into the picture for Tour Championship glory from 11th in the rankings, so the encouragement should be there.

Young could be next maiden winner

After Zalatoris won his first title last week, many people are looking at Cameron Young to be the next young player to make the big breakthrough, and they may not have long to wait.

Young finished second to Australian Cameron Smith at last month’s Open and did well to follow that by claiming another runner-up spot in his following tournament at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

The 25-year-old from New York state was 31st at Southwind last week, but he started with a 67 and closed with a fine 66, so he could make a big impression.