The 2026 PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs kicked off in Memphis with Scottie Scheffler holding a two-stroke lead at the St. Jude Championship, as players vie for a top-50 spot to advance to the BMW Championship.
Why it matters: The St. Jude Championship is a key event in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, determining which players advance to the next stage. With only the top 50 moving on, every stroke counts.
69 players are competing at the St. Jude Championship, with only the top 50 advancing to the BMW Championship next week.
Scottie Scheffler leads the tournament, having not won since earlier in the season, and is aiming to break a seven-month victory drought.
Rory McIlroy, starting 12th in the FedEx standings, committed to this event after skipping the opener last year but struggled early, finishing near the bottom of the leaderboard.
Driving the news: As the tournament progressed, Scheffler maintained his lead after 54 holes, with Sam Burns and Sungjae Im trailing closely. The final round is set to bring intense competition, particularly for those seeking to qualify for the BMW Championship.
Scheffler’s two-shot lead is precarious, as both Burns and Im are determined to capitalize on any mistakes during the final round.
The PGA Tour has altered the point system for the playoffs, reducing points from 2,000 to 750 for the first two events, impacting the dynamics of player advancement.
Only Sungjae Im is projected to move into the top 50, rising from 53rd to 35th, highlighting the limited movement in the standings this year.
State of play: The leaderboard reflects a mix of established stars and rising talent, with many players fighting not just for the championship purse but also for future opportunities in the playoffs.
Jordan Spieth, who needed a strong finish to qualify for the BMW Championship, ended up 52nd in the standings, just missing the cut.
Spieth expressed frustration over his elimination but remains optimistic about his game moving forward, stating, “This will be the last time I finish like this for a mientras.”
Rickie Fowler qualified for the BMW Championship, currently sitting at 30th in the standings and controlling his own destiny for the Tour Championship.
The big picture: The changes to the playoff format have drawn mixed reactions, with some players questioning the impact on competitiveness and excitement.
Reducing the points available has limited the volatility seen in previous years, where players could dramatically shift standings based on one strong performance.
Critics argue that the current format feels more like a money grab than a true playoff, as evidenced by the lack of movement in player standings this year.
With only one more year of this format before potential changes, players and fans alike are eager to see how the PGA Tour evolves.
What they’re saying: Players have voiced their thoughts on the playoff format, emphasizing both the challenges and the opportunities it presents.
“There was a tall task coming in,” Spieth said, acknowledging the difficulty of qualifying and his disappointment with finishing just outside the top 50.
Scheffler, focused on his game, aims to capitalize on his lead, hoping to secure a much-needed victory.
McIlroy, who struggled early in the tournament, is looking to improve his performance in the upcoming BMW Championship.
By the numbers: The financial stakes and standings reveal the high pressure surrounding the playoffs.
The winner of the St. Jude Championship will take home a share of the $3.6 million purse.
Only two players, Keith Mitchell and Maverick McNealy, currently hold the last qualifying spots at 49th and 50th, respectively, with minimal points separating them from those outside the top 50.
Jordan Spieth’s finish at 52nd means he will miss out on both the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship at East Lake this year.
What’s next: The final round of the St. Jude Championship will determine which players advance to the BMW Championship, setting the stage for the climax of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
The final round starts at 7:45 a.m. ET, with live coverage available through various platforms including CBS and the PGA Tour Live app.
Players will be competing not just for the title but for their futures in the playoffs, making every shot count.
With the BMW Championship on the horizon, the pressure will be on those who qualify to perform at their best as they aim for a chance at the Tour Championship.