Rory McIlroy endured a difficult return to competitive golf at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, finishing 66th after struggling to find his rhythm at TPC Southwind in Memphis.
The world No. 2 finished the opening FedExCup Playoff event at 8-over par, posting rounds of 74, 70, 72 and 72. His performance left him near the bottom of the 68-player field.
The tournament was McIlroy’s first competitive appearance since the Open Championship, following a break of almost a month.
McIlroy Struggles With His Swing
The Northern Irishman acknowledged that his game was some distance from the level he expects.
McIlroy said he increasingly felt uncertain about his swing as the tournament progressed, with his problems particularly evident in his ball striking and tee-to-green performance.
Despite the disappointing result, there was a brief sign of encouragement during his final round.
McIlroy produced five birdies over his final 10 holes, suggesting that he was beginning to rediscover some rhythm. However, bogeys on the final two holes prevented him from finishing the tournament on a stronger note.
BMW Championship Comes Next
McIlroy will not have long to recover from the disappointing performance.
The BMW Championship is the second event of the FedExCup Playoffs, with the field reduced to the top 50 players following the St. Jude Championship.
Despite finishing 66th in Memphis, McIlroy remains safely inside that group. Reuters reports that he sits 13th in the FedExCup standings, keeping him in contention for the season-ending Tour Championship.
McIlroy’s immediate priority will be to work on his swing before the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club.
He is expected to spend the next few days working with his swing coach Michael Bannon and caddie Harry Diamond as he attempts to regain consistency.
A Bigger Goal Remains
Despite the difficult week, McIlroy’s larger objective remains unchanged: winning another FedExCup title.
The four-time major champion is seeking a record-extending fourth FedExCup crown, having last won the season-long competition in 2022.
His poor showing in Memphis therefore represents a setback rather than the end of his campaign.
With the playoffs continuing in St. Louis, McIlroy now has a few days to correct the technical problems that affected him at TPC Southwind.
The challenge will be whether he can quickly rediscover his form and turn a disappointing return into a stronger finish to the PGA Tour season.
