It will be small solace after losing a sudden-death playoff on Sunday at the World Wide Technology Championship, but Ben James improved from No. 62 to No. 53 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. That means that with just two events remaining on the schedule, he clinched a spot in the first two Signature events in 2027: Pebble Beach and Riviera. Not a bad consolation prize.

James moved on the right side of the cut off as did Michael Kim, who jumped 10 spots to No. 55 after finishing third. Those moves pushed Max Homa back four spots to 'bubble boy' status, while Jordan Spieth dropped off the pace to No. 63 (though he's only played once this fall at a no-cut event in Japan).

That wasn’t the only movement as players jockey to finish from Nos. 51-60 for signature event status, inside the top 100 to be fully exempt next season, and earn some level of conditional status for finishing Nos. 101-110 and Nos. 111-125. Anything to avoid a return to Q-School and a possible demotion to the Korn Ferry Tour, where the purses are a fraction of those on the PGA Tour.

Here’s what the battle for the top 100 bubble looks like heading into the Austin Championship, the penultimate event of the fall portion of the schedule.

FedEx Cup Fall standings: Last 5 in for full exempt status in 2027

FedEx Cup Fall standings: First 5 out

Elevator up:

Chris Kirk

The veteran pro has more work to do, but after improving nine spots, he's first out at No. 101.

David Ford

He leaped 12 spots to No. 112 and is fighting for conditional status.

Kensei Hirata

He surged 22 places in the FedEx Cup fall.

Peter Malnati

He jumped nine spots and climbed into the top 150in the FedEx Cup Watch.

Isaiah Salinda

He jumped 18 spots to No. 160 but still has more work to do in the final two weeks.

Patton Kizzire

He vaulted 11 spots to No. 162 and will need more of what he found south of the border.