World number one Scottie Scheffler fired a nine-under-par 61 to equal the course record and seize a three-stroke lead after the second round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. The tournament marks the opening leg of the PGA Tour’s play-offs.
The American seized control at TPC Southwind by putting together a masterclass in iron play and putting on Friday. His start laid the foundation for a round that put distance between himself and the rest of the 69-strong field at the no-cut, $20m event.
Scottie Scheffler Ties Course Record With 61
Scheffler opened his second round by birdieing the first five holes, setting a blistering pace in sweltering conditions. Despite minor blemishes with bogeys on the eighth and 12th holes—the latter coming after his tee shot found the water—he bounced back by closing out his day with four birdies in his final five holes.
The world number one recorded his fourth career round of 61 or better on the PGA Tour. His performance on the greens and through his approach shots proved decisive.
“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.”
Scottie Scheffler, via BBC
According to detailed second-round statistics, Scheffler gained 3.401 strokes on the field with his approach play and 3.760 strokes with his putter, totaling 8.333 strokes gained overall during the round.
The Chasing Pack and International Contenders
South Korea’s Sungjae Im and Norway’s Viktor Hovland sit three strokes back at eight under par overall, sharing second place. Im maintained his strong position despite costly bogeys on the 15th and 17th holes, including a three-putt on the 17th.
For Im, maintaining his current position would lift his FedEx Cup ranking from 53rd to 36th. That jump would secure his participation in the second round—reserved strictly for the top 50 players—and keep alive his bid for an eighth consecutive appearance at the final event.
Ludvig Aberg sits alone in fourth place at seven under par. Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood and co-overnight leader Jordan Spieth are grouped at six under par alongside Brian Harman and Nicolas Echavarria.
Struggles for Rory McIlroy and Tournament Outcries
While Scheffler surged ahead, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy struggled to find momentum. Playing alongside the world number one in the marquee group for the opening two rounds, McIlroy carded a level-par 70 to finish at four-over-par, leaving him tied for 62nd in the field.
Because the opening event of the FedEx Cup play-offs features no 36-hole cut, McIlroy and the rest of the field will play through the weekend. Another notable absence is Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who withdrew prior to Friday’s play due to a knee injury after limping to an 82 in the opening round.
The stakes remain high as the weekend approaches.
