Rory McIlroy got off to a disastrous start in the FedExCup Playoffs, posting a four‑over‑par 74 in the opening round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis. The Irish star, who had not competed since tying for 40th at The Open at Royal Birkdale nearly a month earlier, entered the final three holes at even par before a string of costly errors sent him tumbling down the leaderboard. On the 16th and 17th holes McIlroy produced a pair of dropped shots that set the stage for a disastrous finish.
His misfortune culminated on the 18th, the tournament's closing par‑four, where his tee shot found the water hazard, forcing a penalty and resulting in a double bogey. The round left him nine strokes behind the early leaders, American duo Jordan Spieth and Michael Thorbjornsen, who both carded impressive 65s. England’s Tommy Fleetwood, paired with Spieth, was only one stroke off that mark after posting a solid 66 that featured a spectacular chip‑in eagle on the par‑five third hole. Fleetwood reflected on his performance, saying, "I feel good.
I didn't really play very good in the practice days. The game hasn't been that great. I've been showing a lot, like some good and some really not so good. Hit it great off the tee today.
Still my iron play was iffy, but I did a good job of managing it for the most part. Still hit some really good shots, and you can never underestimate how good – I think shooting under par on this golf course is very good." World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who shared the marquee group with McIlroy for the first two rounds, posted a respectable 68, positioning himself near the top of the field. Scheffler explained his approach, noting, "I felt like I hit a lot of quality shots with my irons.
I did a good job of being patient and not trying to force it too much. I feel like I was right on the edge of having a good day, kind of all day is how I would describe it.
So, I felt like patience‑wise, I did a pretty good job." European players also featured prominently in the early standings. Ludvig Åberg and Sepp Straka both joined Scheffler on a two‑under‑par score, while Fleetwood continued to climb with consistent play. Meanwhile, McIlroy could at least take solace in not recording the worst round of the day; that ignominious distinction went to Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who posted a 12‑over‑par 82. The Memphis tournament marks the first of three FedExCup Playoff events.
Only the top 50 players in the overall season standings after the final round on Sunday will advance to the BMW Championship, and the top 30 from there will qualify for the season‑ending Tour Championship. McIlroy currently sits 12th out of the 70‑player field, comfortably within the cutoff for the next stage, and the absence of a cut in these events gives him ample opportunity to climb the leaderboard over the weekend. Throughout the PGA Tour season, players accumulate points based on their finishes in regular events, with additional points awarded for signature tournaments and majors. The FedEx St.
Jude Championship features the top 70 in the FedExCup standings, and the subsequent BMW Championship will trim the field to the top 50, before the final 30 compete in the Tour Championship. Points for the first two playoff events are worth 750 each, matching the value of The Players Championship and the major tournaments. After the BMW Championship, points are reset to zero heading into the Tour Championship, where all qualifiers start at even par. The winner of the Tour Championship will be crowned the 2026 FedExCup champion, earning a $10 million prize and a five‑year PGA Tour exemption.
Live coverage of the FedEx St. Jude Championship continues on Friday at 5 p.m., with broadcasts available on Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Main Event, and streaming platforms that require no contract.
Golf fans can also explore booking options for over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland via the provided search tool. In summary, while McIlroy’s opening round was far from his usual standard, the structure of the FedExCup Playoffs offers him a chance to recover. With a solid field, a clear points system, and several days of golf ahead, the competition remains wide open. Players like Spieth, Scheffler, Fleetwood, Åberg, and Straka have already demonstrated strong form, but the volatile nature of playoff golf means the leaderboard could shift dramatically before the final champion is crowned.