FedExCup Playoffs: Scottie Scheffler produces stunning round of 61 at FedEx St Jude Championship as Rory McIlroy toils
Scottie Scheffler hits second round 61 at FedEx St Jude Championship, moving him to 11 under par and into three-shot lead; poor finish sees Rory McIlroy well back; watch third round of the FedEx St Jude Championship live on Sky Sports Golf from 4pm on Saturday
Saturday 15 August 2026 07:25, UK
Scottie Scheffler produced a stunning nine-under 61 that catapulted him to the top of FedEx St Jude Championship leaderboard as Rory McIlroy toiled again.
The World No 1 started his second round with five successive birdies in sweltering conditions, although bogeys at the eighth and 12th holes put paid to any bid of recording a sub-60 score.
But he ended his day with four birdies in his last five holes to move to 11 under par overall, establishing a three-shot halfway lead over South Korea's Sungjae Im and Norway's Viktor Hovland.
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"You always want to try to get off to a good start," the American said. "I was able to do that today.
"Really just a dream start. Probably one of the best starts I've had on tour, to be honest with you. I couldn't tell you a time where I've been lower early in the round.
"My swing has felt really good in the past couple weeks, especially playing at home. It was nice to get out there and get things rolling early in the round and was able to keep the momentum going and shoot myself a nice round."
Scheffler's sterling efforts in the Memphis sunshine put playing partner McIlroy in the shade, with the Northern Irishman tied for 62nd in the 69-strong field after a level-par 70 left him on four under.
McIlroy approached the 17th on two under for the day, but bogey fives at the last two holes dropped him back although he will play the last two rounds as the opening event of the FedEx Cup play-offs has no cut.
Jordan Spieth, who has not produced a top-10 finish on the PGA Tour this season, was a joint overnight leader and he remains in touch on six under after Friday's 69 at TPC Southwind.
Tommy Fleetwood is also on six under after a bogey-free 68.
"I feel like I played a very patient round of golf," the Englishman said. "It's just nice to be going into the weekend in a good position.
"What can we do about Scottie Scheffler? Just go out there and try to manage your game as best as possible. Shoot the best score you can and see what happens.
"I think in general in the world of golf Scottie is a great person to chase, whether it's a tournament this week or he's the best golfer in the world, and you can all look up to him and try to chase him. He just happens to be up there again and we'll see what we can do over the weekend."
How do the FedExCup Playoffs work?
All season long, players have earned points based on how they have performed in PGA Tour events, with extra points available for the signature events and majors.
Only the top 70 in the standings have reached the FedEx St Jude Championship (August 13-16), with just the top 50 then progressing to the BMW Championship (August 20-23) and then only the top 30 making it to the finale, The Tour Championship (August 27-30).
Winners of the first two play-off events earn 750 points apiece - the same as The Players and the majors - before the points reset to zero ahead of the Tour Championship.
In the closing event, all players begin at even par, with the starting-strokes model based on FedExCup placings at that point axed in 2025.
The winner of the Tour Championship becomes FedExCup champion for 2026, earning $10m (£7.4m) and a five-year PGA Tour exemption.
Live coverage of the first event of the PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, continues at 4pm on Saturday. Watch live on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event or stream with no contract.
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