World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler delivered one of the standout rounds of the 2026 PGA Tour season after firing a stunning nine-under-par 61 to take control of the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis.
Scheffler’s exceptional second-round performance moved him to 11 under par at the halfway stage and gave him a three-shot lead over South Korea’s Sungjae Im and Norway’s Viktor Hovland as the FedExCup Playoffs continued at TPC Southwind. His 61 matched the course record and represented his second-lowest round of the year.
The American began his round in spectacular fashion, making birdies on each of his first five holes. He added another birdie at the seventh to continue his rapid climb up the leaderboard and establish himself as the player to beat.
Although bogeys at the eighth and 12th holes ended any realistic hopes of a sub-60 round, Scheffler quickly recovered. He continued to create scoring opportunities and finished strongly, making four more birdies over his final six holes to complete the remarkable 61.
The performance was particularly impressive because Scheffler started the day well behind the leading group. His outstanding round helped him make a huge move up the leaderboard and transformed his position in the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs.
Scheffler entered the tournament as the world No. 1 and FedExCup points leader, but the St. Jude Championship remains a crucial event for players hoping to progress through the playoffs. The competition is the first stage of the three-event FedExCup Playoffs, with only the top 50 players after the tournament moving on to the BMW Championship.
His three-shot advantage gives him an excellent position heading into the weekend, but several top players remain within reach. Im and Hovland are his closest challengers after strong second-round performances, meaning Scheffler will still need to maintain his high level as the tournament enters its decisive stages.
The third round will be especially important. Known as “Moving Day” in golf, Saturday often gives players the opportunity to make a major push up the leaderboard before the final round. Scheffler, however, has already made a powerful statement and will now aim to protect or extend his advantage.
For the 30-year-old, the tournament also presents an opportunity to return to the winner’s circle. Despite remaining at the top of the world rankings, Scheffler had not won since January before arriving in Memphis. He came into the FedExCup Playoffs following a runner-up finish at the 3M Open and said he was excited about the challenge of finishing the season strongly.
His latest performance suggests that he is in excellent form at exactly the right time.
Scheffler’s ability to recover after the two bogeys also demonstrated why he remains one of the toughest players to beat on the PGA Tour. Rather than allowing the mistakes to affect the rest of his round, he regained momentum and continued to attack the course.
The conditions in Memphis have added another challenge for the players, with high temperatures testing their concentration and physical endurance. Scheffler had already highlighted the importance of staying hydrated and managing the demanding conditions before the tournament began.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy endured a much more difficult second round. A poor finish left the Northern Irishman significantly behind Scheffler heading into the weekend, adding further intrigue to the battle for the title.
With two rounds remaining, all eyes will now be on Scheffler. His course-record-equalling 61 has given him a strong platform, but the chasing pack still has time to close the gap.
If he continues to play at the same level, Scheffler could be difficult to catch. However, golf has repeatedly shown that a three-shot lead can disappear quickly, particularly in the pressure of the FedExCup Playoffs.
As the St. Jude Championship moves into its weekend rounds, Scheffler will attempt to turn his stunning Friday performance into another PGA Tour victory and strengthen his position at the top of the FedExCup standings.
