Scottie Scheffler Leads Star-Studded Field; Rory McIlroy Sits Out
The 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship is underway, marking the start of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs. The tournament, which began Thursday, August 7, at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, features a field of the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings. The event, which has no cut, offers a massive $20 million purse, with $3.6 million going to the winner. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who also finished the regular season as the FedEx Cup points leader, is the top seed and favorite, while defending champion Hideki Matsuyama is also in the field. Notably, world No. 2 Rory McIlroy has opted to skip the event, a move that could impact his standing heading into the final two playoff tournaments.
The Road to the FedEx Cup Trophy Begins
This tournament is the first of three playoff events that will determine the season-long FedEx Cup champion. Players are vying to make it into the next round, as only the top 50 in the standings after this week will advance to the BMW Championship. This year’s event is particularly crucial for players on the bubble, such as Jordan Spieth, who currently sits at No. 48. The quadrupled points on offer for the playoffs can lead to significant movement on the leaderboard. The new FedEx Cup format also ensures that all 30 players who reach the season-ending Tour Championship will start at an even playing field, with no starting strokes awarded, adding to the drama of the final event.
Early Leaderboards and Player Narratives
As of the current round of play, the leaderboard is still taking shape. Early scores have players battling with the challenging TPC Southwind course. Beyond the competition itself, several key storylines are emerging. Scottie Scheffler, who is coming off a double-major season, is looking to maintain his dominant form and make a run at a second consecutive FedEx Cup title. Cameron Young, fresh off his first PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship, is riding a wave of momentum. Meanwhile, players like Xander Schauffele are hoping for a strong showing to improve their standings and solidify their spots in the remaining playoff events.
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