Scottie Scheffler Leads FedEx St. Jude Championship Final Round as Tommy Fleetwood Chases PGA Tour Victory
Scottie Scheffler Leads FedEx St. Jude Championship Final Round as Tommy Fleetwood Chases PGA Tour Victory
Scottie Scheffler heads into the final round of the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship with a two-shot lead at TPC Southwind as he looks to secure his second PGA Tour victory of the season.
Scheffler is at 13 under par, with Sam Burns and Sungjae Im both at 11 under. Jake Knapp and Tommy Fleetwood are further back at 8 under, while Hideki Matsuyama and Si Woo Kim are among the players at 7 under.
The world No. 1 has had several opportunities to add to his win total this season but has finished runner-up five times on the 2026 PGA Tour. He now has a chance to close out the FedEx St. Jude Championship and build momentum in the FedExCup Playoffs.
Sky Sports analyst John E. Morgan believes Scheffler is capable of pulling away from the field.
“I can't see anything but Scottie Scheffler running away with this,” Morgan said. “I think he's going to put his foot down, outplay the rest of the field, extend his lead and run away with it.”
Morgan also highlighted Scheffler's all-around ability despite what he described as some inconsistency with his iron play.
“But Scheffler is a great closer because he's got all bases covered,” Morgan said. “He's 90 per cent good at everything. Tell me one thing he's really super poor at? There isn't one!”
Tommy Fleetwood began the final round at 8 under alongside Si Woo Kim. The reigning FedExCup champion is seeking to make amends after narrowly missing out on winning the event last year.
Fleetwood opened his final round with a drive down the middle of the fairway, while Kim also found the fairway. Fleetwood then missed a birdie opportunity from around 19 feet and settled for par.
Scheffler and Burns were paired together in the final group, with Scheffler beginning at 13 under and Burns at 11 under. Scheffler's opening drive found the right rough after cutting more than intended, while Burns took an aggressive line over the trees.
Sky Sports analyst Rich Beem said the relationship between the two players could make for an entertaining final round.
“Scheffler and Burns are pals, they are going to be chatting together, but these guys are going about their business,” Beem said. “I guarantee they're excited about seeing who's going to get the better of who!”
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy endured another difficult week at TPC Southwind, finishing the tournament at eight over par.
McIlroy, returning to PGA Tour action after a four-week break following The Open, carded rounds of 74, 70, 72 and 72.
The Northern Irishman struggled early in his final round, making a double bogey before adding three more bogeys across the next five holes. He recovered with five birdies during the round but finished with consecutive bogeys, including a water-related mistake on the 18th.
McIlroy admitted that his game remains some distance from the level he wants ahead of next week's tournament.
“I am so far away from where I need to be to even feel like I have a chance, so I've just got to keep working and hope it turns around a little bit,” McIlroy said.
He added that his swing had not been in sync throughout the week.
“Obviously, I didn't come in here with a ton of reps. Felt like the more the week went on, the more I felt lost with my golf swing,” McIlroy said.
Despite the difficult week, McIlroy believes there were positive signs during his closing holes.
“I definitely feel like I've found a feel out there that might work on the golf course, and I'm hitting some better shots coming in,” he said. “Still a few loose ones. But five birdies coming in; there are some signs of encouragement.”
The FedEx St. Jude Championship is the opening event of the three-tournament FedExCup Playoffs. The field will be reduced from 70 players to the top 50 for next week's BMW Championship, before the top 30 advance to the Tour Championship.
The FedExCup Playoffs continue with the final round at TPC Southwind, with Scheffler aiming to turn his two-shot advantage into victory.
ANALYSIS
Scottie Scheffler’s FedEx St. Jude Lead Sets Up High-Stakes Final Round as Tommy Fleetwood Chases Glory
Scottie Scheffler enters the final round of the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship in the position every golfer wants to be in: at the top of the leaderboard with a chance to control his own destiny.
The world No. 1 sits at 13 under par at TPC Southwind, two shots clear of Sam Burns and Sungjae Im. Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp are further back at 8 under, while Hideki Matsuyama and Si Woo Kim remain within striking distance.
With the FedExCup Playoffs now underway, the significance of Scheffler's position goes beyond simply winning another PGA Tour tournament. The FedEx St. Jude Championship is the first of three playoff events, meaning every shot can influence the final stages of the season-long FedExCup battle.
Scottie Scheffler Has the Advantage
Scheffler's two-shot advantage gives him a valuable cushion, but it does not guarantee victory. TPC Southwind has already shown throughout the tournament that mistakes can quickly change the leaderboard.
The biggest question surrounding Scheffler is whether he can finish the job.
The 2026 season has produced an unusual storyline for one of the world's most consistent golfers. Scheffler has finished runner-up five times on the PGA Tour this year, creating a contrast between his remarkable consistency and his relative lack of victories.
That makes Sunday's final round particularly important.
Scheffler has already established himself as one of the strongest players in the world, but another victory would reinforce his ability to convert strong tournament positions into trophies.
Sky Sports analyst John E. Morgan believes Scheffler has the complete game required to close the tournament.
“I can't see anything but Scottie Scheffler running away with this,” Morgan said.
That assessment is understandable. Scheffler does not necessarily need to produce spectacular golf throughout the final round. With a two-shot lead, his priority is likely to avoid unnecessary mistakes while forcing the chasing players to take risks.
The Final-Round Battle With Sam Burns
Sam Burns represents one of the most immediate threats to Scheffler.
Starting two shots behind at 11 under, Burns has a realistic opportunity to apply pressure if Scheffler makes early mistakes. The fact that the two golfers are playing together adds another layer to the contest.
Rich Beem described Scheffler and Burns as friends who will still be focused on competing against each other.
“Scheffler and Burns are pals, they are going to be chatting together, but these guys are going about their business,” Beem said.
That dynamic could make the final group particularly interesting.
Burns does not need to attack every hole aggressively from the beginning. Instead, he can attempt to stay close and wait for Scheffler to make an error.
The opening holes could therefore be crucial. If Burns produces an early birdie while Scheffler struggles, the two-shot advantage could disappear quickly. If Scheffler extends his lead, however, the pressure will shift heavily onto the chasing pack.
Tommy Fleetwood Remains a Major Threat
Tommy Fleetwood's position at 8 under means he has more ground to make up, but writing him off would be premature.
Fleetwood is the reigning FedExCup champion and knows what it takes to perform under pressure during the postseason.
His biggest motivation may also come from what happened at this event last year.
Fleetwood missed out on winning the tournament last year, giving him another reason to attack Sunday's final round.
He started well enough, finding the middle of the fairway with his opening drive. However, he was unable to convert a roughly 19-foot birdie opportunity and settled for par.
The challenge for Fleetwood is clear: he needs a low final round and some help from the players ahead of him.
At eight under, he cannot simply wait for Scheffler to collapse. Fleetwood must create momentum of his own.
A fast start could transform the tournament. Several early birdies would immediately place pressure on the leaders and could make the final stages much more competitive.
Why Scheffler's Iron Play Could Matter
Despite his position at the top of the leaderboard, Scheffler has not been flawless.
Morgan pointed to Scheffler's iron play as one reason he has not collected more trophies this season.
“I think it's been down to his iron play, maybe a few putts clipping by the wayside,” Morgan said.
That observation could be particularly important in the final round.
When a player holds a lead, approach shots become critical because they determine how many realistic birdie opportunities are created. If Scheffler's irons are accurate, he can put pressure on the field without taking unnecessary risks.
If his approach play becomes inconsistent, however, Burns, Im and the rest of the chasing group could receive opportunities.
Scheffler's ability to limit those mistakes may ultimately determine whether he wins the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Rory McIlroy's Difficult Week
While Scheffler prepares for a potential victory, Rory McIlroy leaves TPC Southwind with significantly more questions than answers.
The four-time major champion finished eight over par after rounds of 74, 70, 72 and 72.
His final round demonstrated both the problems and potential that have characterized his week.
McIlroy started with a double bogey and added three more bogeys during the opening stretch. However, he responded with a series of birdies and showed enough quality late in the round to suggest that his game is not completely lost.
McIlroy openly acknowledged that his swing is still not where he wants it to be.
“I am so far away from where I need to be to even feel like I have a chance,” he said.
That statement will attract attention because McIlroy is one of the biggest names in professional golf. His struggles also come at an important stage of the season, with the FedExCup Playoffs providing little room for players to find form.
However, his five birdies coming in offer some encouragement.
McIlroy said he had found a feeling in his swing that “might work on the golf course.” If that feeling carries into next week's tournament, his disappointing performance at TPC Southwind could eventually become a useful learning experience.
The Bigger FedExCup Picture
The FedEx St. Jude Championship is more than a standalone PGA Tour event.
It is the opening tournament of the FedExCup Playoffs, meaning the leaderboard has implications for the remainder of the postseason.
The top 70 players qualified for the opening playoff event. After the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the field will be reduced to the top 50 for the BMW Championship.
The final reduction will leave the top 30 players competing in the Tour Championship.
That format increases the importance of every position.
For Scheffler, winning the FedEx St. Jude Championship would provide both a major tournament victory and valuable FedExCup momentum.
For players further down the leaderboard, the objective is different. They need to climb as high as possible to remain alive in the playoff race.
What to Watch in the Final Round
The most important storyline remains Scheffler's ability to protect his lead.
A two-shot advantage is significant, but golf can change rapidly. One poor tee shot, a three-putt or a difficult hole can completely alter the tournament.
Burns will be the player most capable of applying immediate pressure, while Im remains another serious contender.
Fleetwood faces a tougher challenge because of the larger gap, but his experience as the reigning FedExCup champion means he has every reason to believe a comeback is possible.
The opening nine holes could provide the clearest indication of how the tournament will finish.
If Scheffler remains composed and begins creating birdie opportunities, he could establish control. If Burns or Im starts quickly, the pressure could increase dramatically.
Final Analysis
Scottie Scheffler has placed himself in an ideal position to win the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship, but the tournament is not over.
His two-shot lead gives him control, while his world No. 1 status and all-around game make him the obvious favorite heading into the final round.
Yet his five runner-up finishes this season provide an intriguing subplot. Scheffler has consistently been close to victory, but Sunday's challenge is converting another strong position into a championship.
Tommy Fleetwood, Sam Burns, Sungjae Im and the rest of the chasing pack will be hoping to prevent that.
For golf fans, the final round offers exactly what the opening FedExCup Playoffs event should provide: a world-class leader, experienced challengers, a tight leaderboard and significant postseason consequences.
Scheffler has the advantage. Now he must finish the job.
Source:PGA tour
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