Scheffler breaks tournament record with dominant FedEx Cup playoff opener
The eight-shot win over Si Woo Kim earns $3.6 million in prize money and cements the top FedEx Cup position ahead of the BMW Championship.
Scottie Scheffler opened the PGA Tour postseason with a commanding performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, securing an eight-shot victory in Memphis, Tennessee. Finishing at 17-under 263, Scheffler established the largest victory margin in the tournament’s 68-year history, surpassing the previous record of seven shots set by John Cook at TPC Southwind in 1996.
The win marks Scheffler’s second title of the 2026 season and earned him $3.6 million in prize money. More significantly, the result clinched a $23 million bonus for leading the FedEx Cup standings, a position no other player is currently close to challenging. The victory also ensures his qualification for the upcoming BMW Championship in St. Louis.
Scheffler’s path to the title was not without turbulence. After entering the final round with a one-shot lead, a mishap on the par-5 third hole briefly threatened his advantage. A bunker shot struck a sprinkler head, rolled through the green and into the water for a bogey, shrinking his margin to a single stroke over Sungjae Im. However, Scheffler quickly regained control, sinking consecutive birdie putts on the fifth and sixth holes to extend his lead.
Playing in the final group under stifling heat and wind, Scheffler closed with a 4-under 66 to match the best score of the day. He finished eight shots clear of his Dallas neighbour, Si Woo Kim, who shot a 68 to take second place. Sam Burns, playing alongside Scheffler, finished tied for third with Alex Noren after a round of 73.
The result had immediate implications for the FedEx Cup standings. Sungjae Im finished tied for fifth, moving from 53rd to 50th in the standings to advance to the next playoff event. This move keeps Im’s hopes alive for reaching the Tour Championship, a milestone he has achieved every year since his rookie season in 2019. Conversely, Jordan Spieth and Keith Mitchell missed the cut for the top 50, ending their playoff campaigns. Mitchell made bogey after a shot from the bank tumbled into the water on the 18th hole, while Spieth finished with a 70 after a bogey on the 15th.
The top 50 finishers in the FedEx Cup are now assured of playing in all of the $20 million signature events next year. With two tournaments remaining on the schedule, Scheffler has consolidated his position at the summit of the standings and strengthened his case for a fifth straight PGA Tour player of the year award.
