Memphis: Three-time Major champion Jordan Spieth is in contention for his first win in four years, showcasing a scorching performance with a 7-under-par 65 to share the lead after the first round of the PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoffs, the St. Jude Championship, at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
According to Thai News Agency, the first round opened in scorching heat, with Spieth tied for the lead with four fellow Americans: Jake Knapp, Kurt Kitayama, Michael Thorbjohnsen, and Michael Kim, all at 65 strokes. This marked the largest number of co-leaders in the first round of playoff history.
For Spieth, who is playing in this tournament without a top 10 finish in the 2026 season and is currently ranked 54th in the FedEx Cup standings, he accelerated his game with five birdies in seven holes from hole 9 to hole 15, including a 40-foot putt on the par-3 11th hole. He revealed, "I tried to play this week with patience, keep it simple, don't overcomplicate things, for a chance to win, and be ready to believe in what I'm doing."
Meanwhile, the chasing pack with a score of 6 under par 66 (one stroke behind) is led by major champions Adam Scott, Gary Woodland, Hideki Matsuyama, and Tommy Fleetwood, the reigning playoff champion.
As for the other top players, world number one Scotty Schaeffler shot a 2-under-par 68, placing him in a tie for 17th. Meanwhile, world number two Rory McIlroy and the reigning Masters champion had a severe dip in form, bogeying holes 16 and 17 and suffering a double bogey after hitting a ball into the water at hole 18, finishing the first round at 4-over-par 74 in 68th place, second-to-last in the tournament.
This tournament features 69 golfers (Daniel Berger withdrew due to a back injury) aiming to finish in the top 50 to secure a place in the BMW Championship Play-offs, the second event in St. Louis next week.