Scheffler Shines with Incredible 61 While McIlroy Struggles at St. Jude Championship

Scottie Scheffler delivered an extraordinary performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, carding a nine‑under‑par 61 that vaulted him to the top of the leaderboard.

The American’s blistering round contrasted sharply with the day of World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who once again found himself battling the elements and his own game. Scheffler opened his second round in scorching heat and immediately set the tone with five consecutive birdies. The early surge gave him a comfortable cushion, but a pair of bogeys on the eighth and twelfth holes threatened to derail his quest for a sub‑60 total.

Undeterred, he rallied in the closing stretch, sinking four birdies in his final five holes. The finish secured an 11‑under‑par aggregate, granting him a three‑stroke lead over South Korea’s Sungjae Im and Norway’s Viktor Hovland. Reflecting on his start, Scheffler said, “You always want to try to get off to a good start.

I was able to do that today. It really felt like a dream opening. Probably one of the best starts I’ve ever had on tour. I can’t recall a round where I was that low so early.” He added that his swing had felt “really good” in recent weeks, especially when playing on familiar home soil.

“It was great to get out there, build momentum, and finish with a solid round,” he explained. While Scheffler basked in the Memphis sunshine, his playing partner McIlroy struggled to keep pace. The Northern Irish veteran posted a level‑par 70, which left him tied for 62nd out of a field of 69 and sitting at four‑under‑par overall.

After reaching two‑under on the 17th hole, McIlroy stumbled with consecutive bogey‑five scores on the final two holes, dropping his round. Fortunately, the FedEx Cup opening event does not feature a cut, so he will continue to the next two rounds. Other notable players made their presence felt. Jordan Spieth, who has not cracked the top ten in any PGA Tour event this season, shared the overnight lead and remained at six‑under after posting a 69 at TPC Southwind.

Tommy Fleetwood also sat at six‑under following a flawless 68, free of any bogeys. Fleetwood commented, “I feel like I played a very patient round of golf. It’s nice to head into the weekend in a good position.” He added a respectful nod to Scheffler, saying, “What can we do about Scottie? Just play our own game, shoot the best score we can, and see what happens.

Scottie is a great player to chase, whether it’s a tournament this week or the world’s best golfer overall. He’s up there again, and we’ll see what we can do over the weekend.” The FedEx Cup Playoffs operate on a points system that rewards consistent performance throughout the PGA Tour season. Players accumulate points based on finishes in regular events, with elevated points for signature tournaments and majors.

Only the top 70 in the standings qualified for the St. Jude Championship (August 13‑16). From there, the top 50 advance to the BMW Championship (August 20‑23), and the final 30 move on to the Tour Championship (August 27‑30). Winners of the first two playoff events receive 750 points each—equivalent to the points awarded for victories at The Players Championship and the major championships.

After the BMW Championship, points reset to zero ahead of the Tour Championship, where all competitors start at even par. This format, revised in 2025, eliminates the previous starting‑strokes model based on FedEx Cup rankings. The ultimate prize is the FedEx Cup title, which carries a $10 million (approximately £7.4 million) purse and a five‑year exemption on the PGA Tour. The winner of the Tour Championship is crowned the FedEx Cup champion for 2026.

Live coverage of the FedEx St. Jude Championship continues Saturday at 4 p.m., available on Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Main Event, or via streaming platforms without a contract.

Golf fans can also explore booking options at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, using the provided search tool to locate nearby venues. The event showcases the drama of the playoff season, where every shot can shift the balance of points and reshape the race for the coveted FedEx Cup crown.