Rory McIlroy’s first round at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the opening event of the 2026 FedExCup Playoffs in Memphis, could hardly have been described as a strong start. The Northern Irish star posted a four‑over‑par 74, a score that left him well behind the leaders and highlighted a series of missteps that plagued his final holes. This performance came after a long layoff; McIlroy had not competed since tying for 40th place at The Open at Royal Birkdale nearly a month earlier.
Entering the back‑nine of the first round he was sitting at even par, but a cascade of errors on holes 16, 17 and 18 sent his round spiraling. On the 16th and 17th holes McIlroy produced dropped shots that cost him valuable strokes, and the drama peaked on the 18th, the closing par‑four at TPC Southwind.
His tee shot found the water, forcing a penalty drop and a subsequent double bogey. The 74 left him nine strokes back from the leaders, who were posting five‑under‑par scores. Among those at the top was Jordan Spieth, who, despite being outside the top 50 in the FedExCup points list at the start of the week, managed to finish the round on five‑under and share the lead with a quartet of fellow Americans: Michael Thorbjornsen, Kurt Kitayama, Jake Knapp and Michael Kim. Spieth explained his mindset after the round, saying, “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 calm approach contrasted sharply with McIlroy’s turbulent finish.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who was paired with Spieth, also posted a solid 66, highlighted by a spectacular chip‑in for an eagle on the par‑five third hole, which kept him just a shot off the lead. The tournament’s schedule for 2026 is part of a three‑event playoff series. The first leg, the FedEx St.
Jude Championship, runs from August 13‑16, followed by the BMW Championship (August 20‑23) and the season‑ending Tour Championship (August 27‑30). Only the top 50 players in the FedExCup points standings after the Memphis event will advance to the BMW Championship, and from there the top 30 will qualify for the Tour Championship. McIlroy’s 12th‑place standing after round one means he comfortably remains in contention for the next stage; the FedExCup Playoffs have no cut, giving him ample opportunity to climb the leaderboard over the remaining rounds. World No.
1 Scottie Scheffler, who shared the marquee group with McIlroy, posted a respectable 68, emphasizing his patience and the quality of his iron play. Scheffler noted, “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 was right on the edge of having a good day, kind of all day is how I would describe it.” European players were also represented near the top of the leaderboard. Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland and Sepp Straka each posted two‑under scores, joining Scheffler in a tight cluster.
Shane Lowry recorded 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. McIlroy could at least take solace in not having the worst round of the day; that dubious honor went to Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who carded a 12‑over 82.
Justin Rose also struggled, finishing three over par, and fellow Englishmen Aaron Rai and Harry Hall each ended two over. The FedExCup points system rewards consistent performance throughout the PGA Tour season, with additional points awarded for victories in signature events and majors. As the playoffs progress, points are reset before the Tour Championship, where all qualifiers start at even par.
The winner of the Tour Championship will be crowned FedExCup champion for 2026, earning a $10 million prize and a five‑year exemption on the PGA Tour. For fans eager to follow the action, live coverage of the FedEx St. Jude Championship continues each day at 5 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming options available without a contract.
The event also serves as a showcase for the 1,700 golf courses across the UK and Ireland that can be booked through partner platforms, inviting enthusiasts to experience the game firsthand. In summary, while McIlroy’s opening round was far from ideal, the structure of the FedExCup Playoffs provides ample room for redemption. With three rounds remaining in Memphis, a strong comeback is still within reach, especially given his proven ability to rebound from adversity.
Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth’s patient approach and early surge position him as a serious contender, and the field as a whole remains tightly packed, promising an exciting and unpredictable conclusion to the playoff series.