From the courtroom to the course, everything you need to know about the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Much of professional men's golf's attention was on a California courtroom on Tuesday, where a federal judge ruled that it was OK for the PGA Tour to ban three players who left for the rival LIV Golf series from competing in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Starting on Thursday, eyes will return to the course, where world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler and others will start their quest for the FedEx Cup in the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind, the first leg of the playoffs.

«Going into the FedEx Cup Playoffs ranked No. 1, nothing's really going to change for me,» Scheffler said. «I'm just trying to come out here, have a good start and put myself in position to win this tournament. Obviously the field is really good, all the best players in the world are here, and I'm just looking forward to the challenge of this week.»

Well, not all of the best players in the world are here — and it's still unclear how many of the best will still be performing on the PGA Tour after the playoffs.

Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, the No. 2-ranked player in the world, is the latest top golfer linked to Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf. The Telegraph of London reported on Tuesday that Smith had agreed to a deal worth more than $100 million to join the new circuit, and Smith didn't do much to quash the report during a news conference.

While Tuesday's courtroom victory was big for the PGA Tour, losing a player of Smith's caliber, or worse, having him lift the FedEx Cup at East Lake in Atlanta in three weeks and then defecting to LIV Golf, would be difficult to swallow.

Here's what to watch in the FedEx Cup Playoffs:

United States District Court Judge Beth Labson Freeman's ruling that the PGA Tour could ban Talor Gooch,