Rory McIlroy got off to a disastrous opening round in the FedExCup Playoffs, posting a four‑over‑par 74 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. It was his first competitive round since finishing tied for 40th at The Open at Royal Birkdale nearly a month earlier, and the Irishman’s hopes quickly unraveled as he stood on even par after the 15th hole before a cascade of mistakes sent him tumbling down the leaderboard. The trouble began on the 16th, where McIlroy’s tee shot landed short of the green and he was forced to scramble for a par.
The following hole proved even more costly; a mis‑hit from the tee sent his ball into the water hazard that guards the final par‑four at TPC Southwind. After taking a penalty drop, McIlroy could not recover, and the hole turned into a double bogey.
Those three holes alone erased the solid start he had built and left him nine strokes behind the leaders. Jordan Spieth, who entered the tournament outside the top‑50 in the FedExCup standings, was among a five‑man American contingent that finished the day at five‑under par.
Spieth, Michael Thorbjornsen, Kurt Kitayama, Jake Knapp and Michael Kim all shared the top spot after the first round. Spieth explained his mindset, 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." England’s Tommy Fleetwood, paired with Spieth, sat just one shot off the lead after carding a 66 that featured a spectacular chip‑in for eagle on the par‑five third hole.
Fleetwood reflected on his performance, noting, "I feel good. I didn't really play very good in the practice days. Game's not really been that great. I've been showing a lot, like some good and some really not so good.
Hit it great off the tee today. Still my iron play was iffy, but I did a good job of managing it for the most part.
Still hit some really good shots, and you can never underestimate how good – I think shooting under par on this golf course is very good." World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who shared the marquee group with McIlroy for the first two rounds, posted a respectable 68, keeping himself comfortably in contention. Scheffler said, "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 feel like I was right on the edge of having a good day, kind of all day is how I would describe it. So, I felt like patience‑wise, I did a pretty good job." European players also featured near the top of the board.
Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland and Sepp Straka each recorded two‑under rounds, joining Scheffler in the upper tier of the field. Shane Lowry posted a solid one‑under 71, while Matt Fitzpatrick was left frustrated after a closing double bogey 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, and fellow Englishmen Aaron Rai and Harry Hall posted two‑over scores. The Memphis event marks the first of three FedExCup Playoffs stops. Only the top 50 players in the season‑long points race after the final round of this tournament will advance to the BMW Championship, and from there the top 30 will qualify for the season‑ending Tour Championship.
McIlroy’s current position—12th out of a 70‑player field—means he comfortably secures a spot in the next stage, and because there is no cut in the playoff events he has ample opportunity to climb the leaderboard over the weekend. Throughout the PGA Tour season, players accumulate FedExCup points based on their finishes in regular‑season events, with extra points awarded for the signature tournaments and the four majors. The FedEx St. Jude Championship features the top 70 in the points standings.
After this event, the field narrows to the top 50 for the BMW Championship (August 20‑23) and then to the top 30 for the Tour Championship (August 27‑30). Winners of the first two playoff events receive 750 points each—equal to the points awarded for a major victory—before points are reset for the final tournament. In the Tour Championship, all qualifiers start at even par; the previous starting‑strokes model, which gave players a head start based on their FedExCup ranking, was eliminated after the 2025 season.
The champion of the Tour Championship will be crowned the FedExCup champion for 2026, earning a $10 million prize and a five‑year exemption on the PGA Tour. Live coverage of the FedEx St. Jude Championship continues on Friday at 5 p.m., with broadcasts available on Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Main Event, and via streaming platforms that do not require a contract. Golf fans can also explore tee‑time bookings at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through the provided search tools.
Overall, the opening round delivered a mix of triumph and disappointment. While Spieth and his American teammates seized early momentum, McIlroy’s missteps serve as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in a high‑stakes playoff environment. The weekend promises further drama as the field battles for the crucial points that will determine who advances to the next stage and ultimately who will lift the FedExCup trophy at season’s end.