Rory McIlroy’s opening round at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis could hardly have been more disappointing for the Northern Irish star.
After a month‑long hiatus since his tie for 40th at The Open at Royal Birkdale, McIlroy began the FedExCup Playoffs on a level‑par card, but a string of costly mistakes in the final three holes sent him spiraling to a four‑over‑par 74. The missteps included wayward tee shots on holes 16 and 17, followed by a double‑bogey on the closing par‑four after his drive found the water. That round left him nine strokes behind the leaders, while Jordan Spieth, who had entered the tournament outside the top‑50 in the FedExCup standings, surged to a five‑under‑par 65 and shared the top spot with Michael Thorbjornsen, Kurt Kitayama, Jake Knapp and Michael Kim. Spieth explained his approach, saying, "I just tried to come into this week and just be as patient, non‑reactive as possible, dumb it down to try to win the golf tournament and not worry about anything else." His calm, methodical mindset appeared to pay off, as he posted a round that put him firmly in contention and gave him a chance to climb further up the FedExCup ladder.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood, paired with Spieth, also produced a strong start, carding a 66 that featured a spectacular chip‑in eagle on the par‑five third hole. Fleetwood reflected on his performance, noting, "I feel good.
I didn't really play very good in the practice days. Game's not really 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, posted a solid 68, keeping himself in a comfortable position near the top of the leaderboard.
Scheffler said, "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. Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland and Sepp Straka all posted two‑under‑par rounds, joining Scheffler near the summit.
Shane Lowry posted a respectable one‑under round, while Matt Fitzpatrick’s hopes were dampened by a closing double‑bogey that dropped him back to even par. McIlroy could at least take solace in not having the worst round of the day; that dubious honor went to Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who carded a 12‑over‑par 82. Justin Rose also struggled, finishing three over, and fellow Englishmen Aaron Rai and Harry Hall each posted two‑over rounds.
The FedEx St. Jude Championship is the first of three playoff events that determine the 2026 FedExCup champion. Only the top 50 players in the overall season standings after this tournament will advance to the BMW Championship, and the top 30 after that will qualify for the season‑ending Tour Championship. McIlroy’s current position of 12th out of a 70‑player field ensures he comfortably makes the cut for the next stage, and because there is no cut in these playoff events, he has ample opportunity to improve his standing 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 FedExCup Playoffs amplify the stakes: the first two playoff events award 750 points to each winner, matching the points given for victories at The Players Championship and the majors. After the BMW Championship, points are reset for the Tour Championship, where all qualifiers start at even par. The winner of the Tour Championship will be crowned FedExCup champion, receive a $10 million prize, and earn a five‑year exemption on the PGA Tour.
For fans, live coverage of the FedEx St. Jude Championship continues on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming options available without a contract. The tournament runs from August 13‑16, followed by the BMW Championship from August 20‑23, and the Tour Championship from August 27‑30. Golf enthusiasts can also explore booking options at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, ensuring they can experience the game themselves while following the high‑stakes drama of the FedExCup Playoffs.