Rory McIlroy’s debut in this year’s FedExCup Playoffs could not have begun any less auspiciously. The Northern Irish star posted a four‑over‑par 74 in the first round of the FedEx St.
Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, leaving him well behind the leaders and forcing a dramatic recovery if he hopes to stay in contention. After a month‑long hiatus since his tied‑40th finish at The Open at Royal Birkdale, McIlroy appeared to find his rhythm early, standing at even par as he approached the final three holes. Unfortunately, a cascade of mishaps on the back‑nine unraveled his round.
He carded a dropped shot on the 16th, another mis‑step on 17, and then suffered a double‑bogey on the closing par‑four after his tee shot found the water hazard. The resulting 74 placed him nine strokes behind the first‑round leaders, a sizable gap in a tournament where every shot matters. Among those at the top of the leaderboard was Jordan Spiell, who, together with four other Americans—Michael Thorbjornsen, Kurt Kitayama, Jake Knapp and Michael Kim—finished the day at five‑under‑par. Spiell, who entered the week outside the top‑50 in the FedExCup points race, emphasized a calm, patient approach in his post‑round comments: “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 steady play, coupled with a solid front‑nine, allowed him to share the early lead and set a benchmark for the rest of the field.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood, paired with Spiell, also made a strong showing, posting a 66 that included a spectacular chip‑in for eagle on the par‑five third hole. Fleetwood reflected on his performance, noting that while his practice rounds had been uneven, his tee shots were strikingly good and his iron play, though occasionally tentative, was largely effective. “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,” he said.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who shared the marquee group with McIlroy for the opening two rounds, produced a respectable 68, positioning himself comfortably near the top of the board. Scheffler praised his iron play and patience, remarking, “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 Åberg, Viktor Hovland and Sepp Straka each posted two‑under scores, joining Scheffler in the upper echelon of the leaderboard. Shane Lowry carded a solid one‑under round, while Matt Fitzpatrick’s promising start was undone by a late double‑bogey that dropped him back to even par.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre suffered the worst round of the day, a 12‑over 82, underscoring how unforgiving the Southwind course can be. Justin Rose, another veteran, struggled to find his footing, finishing three‑over, while fellow Englishmen Aaron Rai and Harry Hall each ended two strokes over par. Despite the mixed results, the tournament’s format offers ample opportunity for movement. The FedExSt.
Jude Championship is the first of three playoff events, and unlike regular PGA Tour stops, there is no cut. All 70 qualifiers play all four rounds, meaning McIlroy, currently sitting 12th out of 70, has ample room to climb the leaderboard over the weekend.
His position comfortably secures his place in the next stage, the BMW Championship, where only the top 50 in the FedExCup standings will advance. The FedExCup Playoffs operate on a points‑based system that rewards performance throughout the PGA Tour season, with elevated points for major championships and signature events. After the first two playoff tournaments, each winner receives 750 points—the same as a major victory—before the points reset ahead of the season‑ending Tour Championship. In the final event, all participants start at even par, and the starting‑strokes model that previously gave leaders a head start was eliminated in 2025.
The stakes are high: the Tour Championship winner claims the FedExCup title, a $10 million prize (approximately £7.4 million) and a five‑year exemption on the PGA Tour. As the weekend unfolds, viewers can follow live coverage on Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Main Event, or stream via the PGA Tour’s no‑contract service.
Golf enthusiasts are also encouraged to explore booking options at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, ensuring that the excitement of the FedExCup Playoffs extends beyond the professional ranks. In summary, while McIlroy’s opening round was far from ideal, the structure of the playoffs provides a safety net and a chance for redemption.
Spiell’s patient, methodical approach has already paid dividends, and the field remains tightly packed as the tournament progresses. The next three days will test each player’s resilience, strategy, and ability to adapt under pressure, setting the stage for a compelling battle for the coveted FedExCup crown.