Golf fans just witnessed two very different weeks at TPC Southwind in Memphis. Scottie Scheffler produced a dominant performance to capture his first PGA TOUR title since January, while Rory McIlroy finished near the bottom of the leaderboard and admitted that he felt increasingly lost with his swing.
McIlroy’s difficult week raises questions about whether he can rediscover his form in time to contend for a record fourth FedExCup title. His playoff survival itself is not in immediate danger: he has already secured a place in the season-ending TOUR Championship.
A dominant Sunday for Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler delivered a commanding performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee. The world No. 1 finished at 17-under, earning his first PGA TOUR victory since January and his second win of the 2026 season.
Scheffler began the second round 3 shots off the lead before tying the TPC Southwind course record with a 9-under 61 to move 3 shots clear. He carried a 2-shot advantage into Sunday and then pulled away with a final-round 66.
Scheffler ultimately won by 8 shots over Si Woo Kim, the largest margin of victory at TPC Southwind in 68 years. The victory strengthened his position entering the final 2 events of the FedExCup Playoffs.
Rory McIlroy’s rough week in Memphis
Rory McIlroy endured a difficult week at TPC Southwind, finishing 66th among the 68 players who completed the tournament. He finished at 8-over, 25 shots behind Scheffler.
It was McIlroy’s first competitive start since The Open in July. He posted rounds of 74, 70, 72, and 72, meaning he did not break par in any of his 4 rounds.
The performance stood in sharp contrast to his success earlier in the season, when he won his second consecutive Masters and his second career green jacket in April.
The numbers behind McIlroy’s struggles
McIlroy struggled from tee to green throughout the week, ranking 62nd among 68 players in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green. He also ranked 65th in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee.
There were encouraging signs late in his final round. McIlroy made 5 birdies over his final 10 holes, but bogeys at Nos. 17 and 18 prevented him from finishing the week on a stronger note.
McIlroy’s difficult start on Sunday included a double bogey on the opening hole, and he played his first 6 holes in 5-over. He recovered later in the round but still signed for a 2-over 72.
What McIlroy said after round four
Speaking after his final round, McIlroy said he felt increasingly lost with his golf swing as the week progressed.
He acknowledged that he had arrived in Memphis without many practice repetitions and said his execution was not where it needed to be. McIlroy described the tournament as an opportunity to shake off some rust after nearly a month away from competition.
He said he planned to work with coach Michael Bannon and caddie Harry Diamond before the BMW Championship and acknowledged that significant improvement would be needed for him to contend at Bellerive.
Justin Rose’s quiet charge to second
Justin Rose produced the lowest score of the final round, firing a 6-under 64 at TPC Southwind. The strong finish lifted the defending champion to even par for the tournament and a T39 finish.
Si Woo Kim finished as the solo runner-up at 9-under. Scheffler won at 17-under, giving him an 8-shot margin over second place.
His strong finish highlighted the enormous gap between Scheffler’s dominance and the rest of the field this entire week. Even a strong closing round could not seriously threaten the runaway winner’s commanding overall margin.
Why this result raises FedExCup concerns
McIlroy’s poor showing raises questions about his form heading into the final 2 events of the FedExCup Playoffs. He is chasing a record fourth FedExCup title and his first since 2022.
McIlroy dropped to No. 13 in the standings after Memphis, but his place in the season-ending TOUR Championship is already secure. His challenge at the BMW Championship is therefore less about survival and more about rediscovering a game capable of contending for the title.
The 2026 TOUR Championship will begin with all 30 players at even par, so McIlroy will still have an opportunity to compete for the FedExCup at East Lake regardless of where he finishes at the BMW Championship.
McIlroy’s road back to form
McIlroy now turns his attention to the BMW Championship, the second event of the FedExCup Playoffs. He has already secured his place in the season-ending TOUR Championship regardless of his BMW result.
His immediate challenge is improving his swing before play begins at Bellerive. After Memphis, McIlroy said he planned to work with coach Michael Bannon and caddie Harry Diamond before the next event.
McIlroy said he would need to work hard before Thursday to feel ready to compete again at a high level.
Little-known fact: After McIlroy’s 2026 Masters win, he tied Nick Faldo for the second-most major titles won by a European player, with six, and became just the fourth golfer ever to win consecutive Masters.
What this means for golf fans
The FedEx St. Jude Championship created two sharply contrasting storylines heading into the rest of the playoffs. Scheffler arrives at the BMW Championship after an 8-shot victory, while McIlroy is trying to rediscover his swing after finishing 66th in Memphis.
Scheffler’s form makes him one of the central players to watch over the final 2 events, while McIlroy’s already-secured place at East Lake gives him time to focus on becoming competitive again.
Their contrasting weeks add another storyline to the BMW Championship without determining how either player’s season will ultimately finish.
Little-known fact: The Open Championship first took place in 1860, making it golf’s oldest major, well over a century before the other three began.
TL;DR
- Scheffler won the FedEx St. Jude Championship at 17-under, his first PGA TOUR victory since January.
- McIlroy finished 66th among 68 players who completed the event, at 8-over and 25 shots behind Scheffler.
- McIlroy said he felt increasingly lost with his swing in his first competitive start since The Open.
- He ranked 62nd among 68 players in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.
- Rose shot Sunday’s low round, a 6-under 64, but finished T39 at even par.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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