Scottie Scheffler entered the final day of the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis with a two‑shot advantage, hoping to secure his first victory since the opening event of the year in January. After a spectacular second‑round 61 that set a new course record, the world number one had built a three‑stroke cushion at the halfway point. That margin was slightly reduced on Saturday when he made a bogey on the second‑to‑last hole at TPC Southwind, but he rebounded with a solid two‑under‑par 68, finishing the day at 13 under overall.
Behind Scheffler, Sam Burns delivered a flawless performance, posting an eight‑under‑par 62 without a single bogey. Sungjae Im also stayed close to the leader, carding a three‑under‑par 67. Both Burns and Im sat at 11 under, making them the nearest challengers to Scheffler's lead.
While Scheffler now stands just one strong round away from adding a second title to his résumé – his only win this season being The American Express in California – he has not been idle. In the intervening weeks he has amassed five runner‑up finishes, including a close call at the 3M Open, and nine top‑five results overall, underscoring his consistent contention on the PGA Tour.
The FedEx St. Jude Championship is the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs and is limited to the top 70 players in the season‑long FedExCup points race. Those who survive this first playoff tournament advance to the BMW Championship, scheduled for August 20‑23, and the top 30 after that move on to the Tour Championship, which will be contested from August 27‑30. Winners of the first two playoff stops each earn 750 points, after which the points are reset to zero heading into the final event.
In the Tour Championship, all qualifiers start on even par, a departure from the previous starting‑strokes model that will be eliminated after the 2025 season. The ultimate prize at the Tour Championship is the FedExCup title, which carries a $10 million payout (approximately £7.4 million) and guarantees a five‑year exemption on the PGA Tour for the champion. Scheffler’s third round in Tennessee was a mix of brilliance and a single misstep. After a bogey on the fourth hole, he rallied with birdies on holes two, 11, 12 and 16.
The only blemish came on the 17th, where his second shot landed in a left‑hand bunker on a par‑four, forcing a bogey. Despite that slip, his overall score kept him firmly in the lead.
Defending FedExCup Playoffs champion Tommy Fleetwood also remained in contention after a two‑under‑par Saturday round. His highlight was an impressive 30‑foot birdie putt on the 13th hole. Fleetwood’s total of eight under placed him five strokes behind Scheffler, sharing fourth place with Jake Knapp. Rory McIlroy, on the other hand, found himself languishing near the bottom of the leaderboard.
After a two‑over‑par 72 on Saturday, he was tied for 67th place, six shots over par and a staggering 19 shots behind Scheffler. The world number two has yet to record an under‑par round this week. In his third round, McIlroy was even par heading into the 18th hole but succumbed to a double bogey after his tee shot found water. Earlier in the round he posted birdies on holes nine and ten, but also recorded bogeys on holes two and 13, contributing to a disappointing finish.
For fans eager to follow the drama, the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, with streaming options available through NOW.
Golf enthusiasts can also explore tee times at more than 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland via the provided booking platform. The FedExCup Playoffs continue to shape the season’s narrative, rewarding consistency and peak performance. As the field narrows, each round becomes more critical, and the pressure mounts for the elite group of players still in the hunt for the coveted FedExCup crown. Scheffler’s current position places him in a prime spot to claim the title, but the competition remains fierce, and any slip could open the door for a surge from Burns, Im, Fleetwood, or another contender.
The final day promises high‑stakes golf, strategic decision‑making, and the potential for dramatic swings that could redefine the season’s outcome for the world’s best players.