Rory McIlroy’s debut in this year’s FedExCup Playoffs could not have been more disappointing. The Northern Irish star opened with a four‑over‑par 74 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, leaving him well behind the leaders after the first round.
Having last competed at The Open at Royal Birkdale, where he finished tied for 40th almost a month earlier, McIlroy entered the tournament on an even‑par footing through the first sixteen holes. However, a string of mis‑hits on holes 16 and 17 set the tone for a disastrous finish.
On the final hole, a par‑four at TPC Southwind, his tee shot found the water, resulting in a costly double bogey that pushed his total to nine strokes behind the leaders. Jordan Spieth, who entered the week outside the top‑50 in the FedExCup rankings, surged to the top of the leaderboard alongside Michael Thorbjornsen, Kurt Kitayama, Jake Knapp and Michael Kim, all posting five‑under‑par rounds. Spieth explained his mindset: “I tried to come into this week and be as patient, as non‑reactive as possible, dumb it down and just focus on winning the tournament without worrying about anything else.” England’s Tommy Fleetwood, paired with Spieth, was just a shot off the lead after carding a 66 that featured a spectacular chip‑in for eagle on the par‑five third hole. Fleetwood reflected on his performance, noting, “I feel good.
I didn’t play great in the practice rounds and my game has been a bit up and down, but I hit the tee well today. My iron play was a little shaky, but I managed it well overall. Shooting under par on this course is a solid achievement.” World No.
1 Scottie Scheffler, who shared the marquee group with McIlroy for the opening two rounds, posted a respectable 68, putting himself in a solid position. Scheffler said, “I felt like I was hitting a lot of quality shots with my irons. I stayed patient and didn’t try to force anything. I was on the edge of having a good day all day, so I think my patience paid off.” European players also featured near the top of the standings.
Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland and Sepp Straka each recorded two‑under‑par rounds, joining Scheffler in the chase. Shane Lowry posted a steady one‑under performance, while Matt Fitzpatrick’s round was marred by a closing double bogey that dropped him back to even par. McIlroy could at least take some solace in not having the worst round of the day. That unwanted distinction went to Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who posted a 12‑over‑par 82.
Justin Rose also struggled, finishing three‑over, and fellow Englishmen Aaron Rai and Harry Hall each ended two strokes over par. Memphis hosts the first of three FedExCup Playoff events. After the final round on Sunday, the top 50 players in the season‑long points race will advance to the BMW Championship, and the top 30 from there will qualify for the season‑ending Tour Championship.
McIlroy’s current position—12th out of a 70‑player field—means he comfortably secures a spot in the BMW Championship, and because there is no cut in these events, he has 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 the majors. The FedEx St. Jude Championship is the first playoff stop, featuring the top 70 in the standings.
The next stop, the BMW Championship, will admit only the top 50, and the final stop, the Tour Championship, will admit the top 30. The points structure for the playoffs mirrors that of the most prestigious events: winners of the first two playoff tournaments receive 750 points each, equivalent to the points awarded for a major victory. After the BMW Championship, points are reset to zero ahead of the Tour Championship, where all qualifiers start at even par. The winner of the Tour Championship is crowned 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., available via Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Main Event, or streaming without a contract.
Golf fans can also explore tee‑times and book rounds at more than 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through the provided search tools. Overall, while McIlroy’s opening round was far from ideal, the format of the playoffs gives him a chance to rebound. With a solid field of competitors—including seasoned veterans and rising stars—the remainder of the FedExCup Playoffs promises intense competition, strategic play, and the potential for dramatic shifts in the standings as the season draws to a close.