Scottie Scheffler entered the final day of the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis with a two‑shot cushion, poised to chase his first victory since the opening tournament of the year in January. After an explosive second round in which he posted a course‑record 61, the world number one had built a three‑stroke advantage at the halfway point.

However, a bogey on the second‑to‑last hole on Saturday trimmed that lead to two strokes as he carded a solid two‑under‑par 68, finishing the day at 13 under overall. Trailing Scheffler were two formidable contenders: Sam Burns, who delivered a flawless, bogey‑free 62, eight strokes under par, and Sungjae Im, who posted a three‑under 67.

Both men sat at 11 under, just two shots shy of the leader. Burns’ round was particularly noteworthy; his flawless play demonstrated why he is considered one of the rising stars on the PGA Tour, and his performance kept the pressure on Scheffler as the tournament moved toward its climax.

For Scheffler, the path to his first trophy of the season is now within reach. Although he has not captured a title since his win at The American Express in California earlier this year, he has been a constant threat, racking up five runner‑up finishes—including a close call at the 3M Open—and nine top‑five results in the intervening months. Those near‑misses have only heightened the anticipation that a win is imminent. The FedEx St.

Jude Championship is the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs, reserved for the top 70 players in the season‑long FedExCup points race. The stakes are high: the top 50 after this tournament advance to the BMW Championship in August, and only the leading 30 will earn a spot in the season‑ending Tour Championship later that month. Winners of the first two playoff events each receive 750 points, after which points are reset to zero heading into the Tour Championship.

In the final event, all qualifiers start on even par, a departure from the previous starting‑strokes model that will be discontinued after 2024. The ultimate prize is substantial. The Tour Championship winner is crowned FedExCup champion for 2026, taking home $10 million (approximately £7.4 million) and securing a five‑year exemption on the PGA Tour—a significant career‑long benefit.

During his third round in Tennessee, Scheffler experienced a brief stumble, bogeying the fourth hole before rebounding with birdies on holes two, 11, 12 and 16. The round’s only blemish came on the 17th, where a mis‑hit into a left‑hand bunker forced a difficult recovery and resulted in another bogey.

Despite that hiccup, his overall performance kept him firmly atop the leaderboard. Defending FedExCup champion Tommy Fleetwood remained in contention after posting a two‑under‑par 68 on Saturday. His round featured a spectacular birdie putt on the 13th hole, and he finished at eight under, sharing fourth place with Jake Knapp and sitting five strokes behind Scheffler.

Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, found himself languishing near the bottom of the field. After a two‑over 72 on Saturday, he was tied for 67th place at six over par, a full 19 strokes behind the leader. The world number two has yet to record a sub‑par round this week.

McIlroy’s third round was a roller‑coaster: he was even par heading into the 18th but then incurred a double bogey after his tee shot found water. He did manage back‑to‑back birdies on holes nine and ten, but bogeys on holes two and 13, along with the costly final‑hole mistake, left his tournament hopes dim.

Fans can catch the final round live on Sky Sports Golf starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, with streaming options available through NOW. For those looking to practice their own swing, there are over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland where you can book a round at competitive rates. The FedEx St.

Jude Championship continues to be a pivotal event in the PGA Tour calendar, setting the tone for the playoffs and offering a glimpse of which players will carry momentum into the next stages. Scheffler’s steady play, Burns’ electrifying round, and the struggles of seasoned veterans like McIlroy illustrate the unpredictable drama that makes professional golf so compelling. As the final round approaches, all eyes will be on Scheffler to see if he can convert his lead into a victory, while his challengers will be looking for any opportunity to close the gap and force a dramatic finish.