Rory McIlroy is set to make his comeback at the FedEx St. Jude Championship this week, with the event being broadcast live on Sky Sports. The world No.
2 is eyeing a strong finish to the PGA Tour calendar and hopes to add a record‑extending fourth FedExCup title to his résumé. Entering the first of three playoff tournaments, McIlroy sits 12th in the season‑long FedExCup standings. Only the top 50 players after this week will advance to the BMW Championship, and the field will be whittled down to the best 30 for the season‑ending Tour Championship.
The two‑time consecutive Masters champion sat out last year’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, but he is back this season as part of a 69‑player field at TPC Southwind in Memphis. He will be joined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Justin Rose, among others.
All three playoff events will be shown live on Sky Sports: - August 13‑16: FedEx St. Jude Championship (TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee) - August 20‑23: BMW Championship (Bellerive Country Club, St.
Louis, Missouri) - August 27‑30: Tour Championship (East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia) Since defending his Masters title in April, McIlroy has competed in only six tournaments, three of which were outside the majors. His recent results include a tie for 19th at the Truist Championship, a tie for 12th at The Memorial, and a shared seventh place at the Genesis Scottish Open. Brad Faxon, the veteran PGA Tour player who mentors McIlroy’s putting, told the Sky Sports Golf Podcast that the 37‑year‑old now has the luxury of being selective about his schedule.
"After back‑to‑back Masters titles, he’s in a position where he can afford to choose his events both financially and mentally," Faxon explained. Faxon added that while McIlroy may not feel physically exhausted after a round of golf, the mental strain of constant media attention can be draining. "Every time he steps through a gate or sits down for dinner, someone is approaching him. The spotlight never really turns off," he said.
The putting coach praised McIlroy’s patience, noting that the golfer recently escaped to the Greek islands with close friends as a way to recharge away from the game. "When Rory told his daughter Poppy, ‘I need to go practice,’ she replied, ‘you already know how to play, Daddy.’ That moment shows he still has the confidence and joy that made him a champion," Faxon recalled.
Looking ahead, Faxon warned that the hot summer weather in the southern United States will demand excellent physical conditioning if McIlroy hopes to contend for the FedExCup over the next few weeks. The FedExCup points system rewards players for their performance throughout the season, with extra points awarded for signature events and the four majors. The top 70 players in the standings have qualified for the FedEx St. Jude Championship, and only the top 50 will move on to the BMW Championship.
From there, the field narrows to the 30 best players who will compete in the Tour Championship. Winners of the first two playoff stops receive 750 points each, the same amount given for victories at The Players Championship and any major. After the BMW Championship, points are reset to zero before the final event.
The Tour Championship now uses a starting‑strokes format that was eliminated in 2025, meaning all competitors begin the final round on even par, with their FedExCup ranking determining only their eligibility. The champion of the Tour Championship will be crowned the FedExCup winner for 2026, earning a $10 million prize (approximately £7.4 million) and a five‑year exemption on the PGA Tour.
Qualifying for the FedEx St. Jude Championship also guarantees a player’s PGA Tour card for the 2027 season and an invitation to The Players Championship.
Those who advance to the BMW Championship secure spots in next season’s signature events, while the 30 who reach the Tour Championship receive a two‑year exemption and an automatic entry into the Masters at Augusta National, as well as potential berths in the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. A notable storyline this week is the rise of 21‑year‑old Jackson Koivun, who captured the 3M Open in just his third professional start after fending off a challenge from Scottie Scheffler. Koivun’s rapid ascent earned him a FedExCup playoff berth after only five events, tying Tiger Woods’ record for fastest qualification.
Faxon praised the young American, saying he would be an excellent addition to the U.S. Ryder Cup team slated to compete in Ireland next September.
"Jackson dominated college golf and is the hardest‑working player I’ve ever seen. He has a superb putting stroke and an even better attitude toward the short game," Faxon said. He continued, "I spend a lot of time at the Titleist Performance Institute, where we test equipment. When I first met Jackson there, everyone who fitted his clubs and balls was amazed – nobody had seen anything like his performance.
He also hits his irons exceptionally well, and I’m very excited about his future. I’ve been a long‑term believer in Jackson Koivun." The FedExCup Playoffs kick off on Thursday with the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 7 p.m., or stream the coverage without a contract.
For those interested in playing a round themselves, the PGA Tour’s booking platform offers access to more than 1,700 courses across the United Kingdom and Ireland. In summary, Rory McIlroy’s return to competitive golf comes at a crucial juncture in the FedExCup race.
With a strong world ranking, a seasoned mentor in Brad Faxon, and a schedule that now allows him to pick his events wisely, McIlroy is well‑positioned to chase a historic fourth FedExCup title. Meanwhile, emerging talents like Jackson Koivun add fresh intrigue to the playoffs, promising an exciting conclusion to the 2026 PGA Tour season.