Scottie Scheffler shot a nine-under 61 in the second round of the FedEx St. Jude championship at TPC Southwind to take a clear lead heading into the weekend in Memphis. The World No. 1 moved to 11 under par and stood three shots clear of his nearest challengers after Friday’s play.
- Scottie Scheffler shot a nine-under 61 in Round 2 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship to move to 11 under.
- Scheffler held a three-shot lead over Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland after Round 2.
- The FedEx St. Jude Championship is the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs and has no cut; top 50 advance to the BMW Championship.
What happened in Memphis
Scheffler produced a blistering start, opening his round with five consecutive birdies and closing with four birdies in his final five holes to post a 61, which matched the course record at TPC Southwind, according to ESPN and Sky Sports reports. His performance left him at 11 under overall and three shots ahead of Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland after Round 2.
Leaderboard snapshot (after Round 2)
Multiple outlets reporting from the FedEx St. Jude Championship show Scheffler alone at 11 under. Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland were listed as the nearest pursuers, three shots back, while other notable names — including Jordan Spieth and Tommy fleetwood — remained within range on lower scores, per Sky Sports and local Memphis coverage.
Context: why this matters
This is the opening event of the PGA Tour FedExCup Playoffs, a limited-field tournament for the top 70 players in FedExCup standings. As Sky Sports explained, the event has no cut and qualifies the top 50 for the next playoff stage, the BMW Championship. A strong result in Memphis therefore carries both immediate prize implications and FedExCup momentum into the remaining playoff events.
How Scheffler built the lead
Reports detail that Scheffler’s round featured an exceptional front nine and a fast finish. After his five straight birdies to start, bogeys at the 8th and 12th briefly interrupted the run, but a hot closing stretch — four birdies in five holes — pushed him to the 61. Sky Sports characterises the round as “stunning,” highlighting the World No. 1’s familiarity with playing well in these conditions.
Where other contenders stand
Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland trailed Scheffler by three strokes after Round 2, according to ESPN and local Memphis reporting. Jordan Spieth and Tommy Fleetwood were reported as being inside the top 10 positions and within striking distance, with Spieth on six under after a 69 and Fleetwood also on six under following a bogey-free 68, per Sky Sports.
Implications and what to watch
- With no cut at this event the full field will play the weekend, so leaders can be pressured by late surges from behind.
- Scheffler’s form — a course-record-tying 61 and the World No. 1 ranking — marks him as the player to beat, but the margin remains small enough for contenders to close in two rounds.
- FedExCup points are at stake: advancing from this event affects who reaches the BMW Championship and, ultimately, the Tour Championship.
Timeline — FedExCup play this week
- Aug 13–16: FedEx St. Jude Championship (TPC Southwind) — top 70 in FedExCup standings compete; no cut. Sources report Scheffler’s second-round 61 on Aug 14 moved him to 11 under and into the lead.
- Aug 20–23: BMW Championship — top 50 advance from Memphis to this second playoff event (structure explained by Sky Sports).
- Aug 27–30: The Tour Championship — top 30 play for the FedExCup title and season-ending prize; Sky Sports noted format changes in recent years.
What's not fully clear
Different outlets provide consistent reporting that Scheffler leads at 11 under after a 61, and that Im and Hovland are three shots back. Detailed full-field scoring placements and a complete, current leaderboard were not reproduced in full across the sources provided; readers seeking every player’s position should consult the PGA Tour’s live leaderboard for minute-by-minute updates.
Local relevance and practical info for viewers
The tournament at TPC Southwind in Memphis is being covered live by major broadcasters; Sky Sports indicated live coverage windows for its audience and ESPN provided summary reporting of Scheffler’s course-record-tying round. Because this event has no cut, fans can expect a full slate of players across the weekend rounds.
Bottom line
Scottie Scheffler seized control of the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a nine-under 61 in Round 2 to reach 11 under and lead by three shots. The FedExCup Playoffs structure makes his performance particularly consequential for season-long standings, but with two rounds remaining and no cut, several established players remain within reach.
