Scottie Scheffler delivered an extraordinary performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, carding a nine‑under‑par 61 that vaulted him to the summit of the leaderboard. Meanwhile, World No.
1 Rory McIlroy endured another challenging round, unable to match Scheffler's brilliance. Scheffler began his second round with a blistering surge, stringing together five consecutive birdies despite the sweltering heat that enveloped the course.
His momentum was briefly halted by bogeys on the eighth and twelfth holes, which prevented him from dipping below 60. Nevertheless, he recovered admirably, finishing the day with four birdies in his final five holes.
The result was an 11‑under‑par total, granting him a three‑stroke cushion over South Korea’s Sungjae Im and Norway’s Viktor Hovland. "You always want to try to get off to a good start," Scheffler said after his round. "I was able to do that today. It felt like a dream start—probably one of the best I've ever had on tour.
I can’t recall a time when I was that low so early in a round. My swing has been feeling great these past few weeks, especially playing at home. It was nice to get out there, get things rolling early, and keep the momentum going to post a solid score." Scheffler’s superb play in the bright Memphis sunshine highlighted the contrast with his playing partner McIlroy, who found himself tied for 62nd out of a 69‑player field after posting a level‑par 70 that left him at four under overall. The Northern Irish star entered the 17th hole at two under for the day, but a pair of bogey‑five finishes on the final two holes dropped him back, though he still has the advantage of playing the remaining rounds without a cut, as the opening event of the FedEx Cup playoffs does not eliminate any competitors.
Other notable performances included Jordan Spieth, who, despite not having recorded a top‑10 finish this season, shared the overnight lead and remained at six under after a 69 at TPC Southwind on Friday. Tommy Fleetwood also sat at six under after a flawless, bogey‑free 68. Fleetwood reflected on his round, saying, "I feel like I played a very patient round of golf.
It’s nice to head into the weekend in a good position." When asked about Scheffler’s dominance, Fleetwood answered, "What can we do about Scottie? Just go out there and try to manage your game as best as possible. Shoot the best score you can and see what happens.
Scottie is a great person to chase, whether it’s a tournament this week or he’s the best golfer in the world. You can look up to him and try to chase him. He just happens to be up there again, and we’ll see what we can do over the weekend." Throughout the season, PGA Tour players have accumulated points based on their finishes in regular events, with additional points awarded for signature tournaments and majors. The FedEx St.
Jude Championship, held from August 13‑16, marks the first of three playoff events and features the top 70 players in the FedExCup standings. The top 50 after this tournament will advance to the BMW Championship (August 20‑23), and the top 30 will move on to the season‑ending Tour Championship (August 27‑30).
The first two playoff events award 750 points to the winner—equivalent to the points given for victories at The Players Championship and the majors. After the BMW Championship, points are reset to zero heading into the Tour Championship, where all qualifiers start at even par. The starting‑strokes format that previously gave players a head start based on their FedExCup ranking was eliminated in 2025. The champion of the Tour Championship will claim the FedExCup title for 2026, earning a $10 million prize (approximately £7.4 million) and a five‑year exemption on the PGA Tour.
Live coverage of the FedEx St. Jude Championship continues on Saturday at 4 p.m., available on Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Main Event, or via streaming services that require no contract.
Golf fans can also explore booking options at more than 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland by entering a course name, city, or postal code on the associated website. Overall, Scheffler’s nine‑under‑61 not only showcased his exceptional form but also set a high bar for the rest of the field as the FedExCup playoffs progress.
McIlroy’s struggle underscores the unpredictable nature of tournament golf, where even the world’s top players can face tough days. As the playoffs move forward, the battle for points, positions, and ultimately the coveted FedExCup crown will intensify, promising more drama and high‑stakes competition for fans worldwide.