Scottie Scheffler Leads FedEx St. Jude Championship Entering Final Round

August 16, 2026 by Jordan Hayes

< div class="article-lead">

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler holds a two-stroke lead at 13-under par heading into the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, chased closely by Sam Burns and Sungjae Im as the PGA Tour playoffs reach their opening climax.

The opening event of the FedEx Cup playoffs has set up an elite weekend duel at TPC Southwind, where world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler maintains his grip on the leaderboard despite a late stumble on Saturday. Scheffler carded a two-under 68 in punishing 97-degree heat, finishing at 13-under overall according to live tournament reporting. His three-stroke overnight advantage was trimmed by one after a bogey on his penultimate hole, leaving the tournament open as the 68-man field battles not only for the trophy but for survival in the postseason standings.

TPC Southwind Conditions and the Chasing Pack

Scorching weather has defined the week in Memphis, with Sunday’s forecast calling for sunny skies and a near-record high temperature of 102 degrees, accompanied by a heat index well north of 110 as detailed in course conditions updates. The private 7,288-yard, par-70 layout designed by Ron Prichard has hosted the PGA Tour since 1989 following its 1988 opening, demanding precise execution on firm fairways and slick greens.

That pressure caught up with several contenders on Saturday while igniting others. Sam Burns fired a sizzling, bogey-free eight-under 62 to surge into a tie for second place at 11-under alongside South Korea’s Im Sung-jae, who posted a 67. Defending FedEx Cup champion Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp sit three strokes further back at eight-under in a tie for fourth following steady weekend rounds.

Scheffler and Burns Share the Final Pairing

Sunday’s final round pairs Scheffler with close friend Sam Burns, creating a dynamic that balances fierce competition with personal camaraderie. Scheffler acknowledged the unique atmosphere of playing alongside a close peer for a major playoff title.

Scheffler is pursuing his first victory since claiming The American Express in California at the start of the year, having recorded five runner-up finishes and nine top-fives in the intervening months. Burns, meanwhile, understands the challenge of chasing the world No. 1.

Playoff Cuts and Star Struggles at TPC Southwind

While the leaders eye the trophy, the broader field fights for postseason survival. Only the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings at the end of the weekend will advance to next week’s BMW Championship. Maverick McNealy sits precariously on the bubble at 50th, while Brian Harman climbed from 65th to a projected 51st with a strong third round based on projected standings data.

Scottie Scheffler Leads FedEx St. Jude Championship Entering Final Round — Photo: USA Today

At the opposite end of the leaderboard, former champions endured a brutal finish on Saturday. Six-time major winner Rory McIlroy and 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose both hit major trouble on the par-4 18th hole. McIlroy carded a double-bogey six after driving into the water off the tee, capping off a round of 72 that left him languishing in tied-67th at six-over without posting a single round under par all week. Rose fared even worse, finding the same water hazard twice to sign for a triple-bogey seven according to course scorecards.

Broadcast Schedule and the Road to the Tour Championship

The postseason structure dictates intense movement over the coming weeks. The top 50 after Memphis advance to the BMW Championship from August 20–23, before the field is slashed to the final 30 for the Tour Championship from August 27–30. Winners of the first two playoff events earn 750 points apiece before points reset to zero, with all players beginning at even par under the starting-strokes model revised in 2025. The eventual Tour Championship winner will claim the 2026 FedExCup title, earning a $10m (£7.4m) prize and a five-year PGA Tour exemption.

2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship: Scottie Scheffler ties course record, surges into lead

Final-round coverage on Sunday airs across multiple platforms, opening on the ESPN App before shifting to the Golf Channel and concluding with main afternoon coverage on CBS.