Scottie Scheffler turned in a textbook performance at TPC Southwind, securing an emphatic eight‑stroke triumph in the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Entering the final round with a two‑stroke cushion, the 30‑year‑old four‑time major champion kept his composure as the sweltering Memphis heat took its toll on his pursuers.
Scheffler methodically dismantled the course, carding a 66 in the closing round to finish at 17 under par and claim the title. The win pushes Scheffler into the elite company of the third‑youngest players ever to notch 21 PGA Tour victories, trailing only legends Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. While he could have reached that milestone earlier, this season he has already finished runner‑up five times, underscoring both his consistency and the fine margins that separate victory from near‑miss.
"Winning out here isn’t easy," Scheffler reflected after the round. "This year has shown just how tough it can be. We have a deep field of talented guys, and I’ve played solid golf all season, but I haven’t always been at my best.
I’ve had close calls and lost a couple of playoffs. It felt great to finally hold the lead and build on it as the round progressed. I’ve been hearing that I’m playing solidly all year, but now I finally have a win to prove it." The tournament schedule for the 2026 PGA Tour lists the FedEx St. Jude Championship as a pivotal stop in the FedExCup Playoffs, with the next event, the BMW Championship, set to air on Sky Sports.
Fans can stream the action without a contract through NOW, and a dedicated Sky Sports Golf Podcast provides additional analysis. Scheffler’s only blemish came on the third hole of his final round. After a well‑executed bunker shot, his ball struck a sprinkler head, ricocheted into a water hazard, and resulted in a bogey. Unfazed, he rebounded two holes later, birdieing both the fifth and sixth, and added three more birdies on the back nine, ultimately finishing four under for the day.
"I just wanted to execute my game plan today," Scheffler said. "On the third hole I hit a good shot out of the bunker, but it hit a sprinkler and went into the water.
I thought, ‘When will this stop happening?’ but I stayed calm, bounced back, and relaxed as the round went on." South Korean Si Woo Kim secured solo second place at nine under par, while Sam Burns slipped to a tie for third after a bogey on the 18th, sharing the spot with Alex Noren. Burns praised Scheffler’s performance, noting that matching the champion’s 17‑under would have required a near‑perfect round.
Defending FedExCup champion Tommy Fleetwood struggled, alternating two bogeys with two birdies to remain even through the front nine, then dropping to six under after four bogeys on the back nine, ultimately finishing tied for seventh. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy returned from a four‑week holiday to post a 72 in the final round, ending the tournament 66th overall. Justin Rose was the only player to out‑score Scheffler on Sunday, carding a 64, yet his earlier rounds of 73, 70 and 73 left him at even par and tied for 39th.
The leaderboard reflected the depth of the field, with many top‑ranked players vying for limited FedExCup Playoff spots. The next playoff event, the BMW Championship, will feature the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings. Notably, Jordan Spieth, who had hovered around the cutoff and briefly rose to 45th after a strong front‑nine, ultimately finished tied for 19th after a level‑par finish. Spieth acknowledged the challenge, saying, "I needed a top‑10 finish this week and fell just short.
I feel like I’m getting back to good golf, but I won’t be playing a tournament for a while." Harry Hall, another borderline qualifier, posted a three‑under final round but remained 56th in the standings, missing the BMW Championship. His compatriot Jordan Smith finished the season 66th after a four‑over round, also failing to advance.
Fans can watch all four rounds of the BMW Championship live on Sky Sports, with early coverage beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday and full‑round broadcasts starting at 8 p.m.
The event promises further drama as the FedExCup race tightens and the remaining contenders fight for the coveted playoff spots. Overall, Scheffler’s dominant display at TPC Southwind highlighted his ability to stay cool under pressure, execute his shot‑making with precision, and capitalize on opportunities when rivals faltered.
His eight‑stroke margin not only adds a prestigious title to his résumé but also cements his status as a leading figure in the current PGA Tour landscape, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the 2026 season.