Rory McIlroy got off to a disastrous beginning at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the opening stop of the FedExCup Playoffs, posting a four‑over‑par 74 in the first round. The Irishman, who had not competed since tying for 40th at The Open at Royal Birkdale nearly a month earlier, seemed to find his rhythm early, standing at even par as he approached the final three holes.
Unfortunately, a string of mis‑hits on holes 16 and 17 set the stage for a costly double‑bogey on the closing par‑four, where his tee shot landed in the water hazard and forced a penalty drop. That tumble left McIlroy nine strokes behind the leaders, who were all sitting at five‑under after the round. Among those at the top was former major champion Jordan Spiell, who, despite beginning the week outside the top‑50 in the FedExCup points race, posted a five‑under 65 to share the lead with a quartet of fellow Americans – Michael Thorbjornsen, Kurt Kitayama, Jake Knapp and Michael Kim. Spiell explained his approach, saying, "I tried to stay patient, keep things simple and just focus on winning the tournament without getting distracted by anything else." His calm, methodical mindset seemed to pay off, as he navigated the challenging TPC Southwind layout with a series of precise iron shots and solid putting.
England's Tommy Fleetwood, paired with Spiell for the round, also posted a strong 66, highlighted by a spectacular chip‑in eagle on the par‑five third. Fleetwood reflected on his performance, noting, "I felt good today. My tee shots were solid, even if my iron play was a little inconsistent. Still, I managed the course well and shooting under par here is a good sign." He added that his practice rounds had been uneven, but he was able to translate the good moments into a competitive score.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who shared the marquee group with McIlroy, posted a respectable 68, keeping himself comfortably inside the top‑20 of the 70‑player field. Scheffler said, "I hit a lot of quality iron shots and stayed patient, not trying to force anything.
I was on the cusp of a great day for most of the round, and I think my patience paid off." His steady play placed him in a tie for second‑under alongside European teammates Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland and Sepp Straka, all of whom were positioned near the top of the leaderboard. Other notable performances included Shane Lowry’s solid one‑under round and Matt Fitzpatrick’s disappointment after a closing double‑bogey that dropped him back to even par. Meanwhile, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre endured the toughest day of the tournament, carding a 12‑over 82, the highest score of the round. Justin Rose also struggled, finishing three‑over, while fellow Englishmen Aaron Rai and Harry Hall each posted two‑over totals.
Despite the setback, McIlroy can take some solace from the fact that his 74 was far from the worst score posted that day. The FedEx St. Jude Championship is the first of three playoff events, and the format does not include a cut, meaning every player will have two more rounds to improve his standing. McIlroy currently sits 12th out of 70, comfortably within the top‑50 threshold required to advance to next week’s BMW Championship.
The points system rewards consistency across the season, with extra points awarded for major championships and signature events. The top‑70 in the FedExCup rankings earned the right to compete in Memphis, the top‑50 will move on to the BMW Championship in August, and the top‑30 after that will qualify for the season‑ending Tour Championship. The playoff structure is designed to keep the competition fierce.
Winners of each of the first two playoff tournaments receive 750 points – the same amount awarded for a major victory – before the points are reset to zero heading into the Tour Championship. In the final event, all qualifiers start at even par, a departure from the previous "starting‑strokes" model that was eliminated after the 2025 season. The champion of the Tour Championship will be crowned the FedExCup champion for 2026, earning a $10 million prize and a five‑year exemption on the PGA Tour.
Looking ahead, McIlroy will need to rebound quickly. The Memphis course, TPC Southwind, is known for its demanding water hazards and tight fairways, rewarding precision over power. If he can recapture the form that made him a multiple‑major winner, he has ample opportunity over the weekend to climb the leaderboard. His experience in high‑pressure situations should serve him well, especially as the field tightens and the points race intensifies.
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 also offers a chance for casual golfers to book tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, encouraging broader engagement with the sport. In summary, the opening round delivered a mix of triumphs and tribulations. While Spiell and a group of American compatriots seized the early advantage, McIlroy’s early stumble underscores the unpredictable nature of playoff golf.
With two rounds remaining and no cut to eliminate players, the tournament remains wide open, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of competition as the FedExCup Playoffs progress toward the decisive BMW Championship and ultimately the Tour Championship finale.