St Jude Championship: Spieth and Thorbjornsen share lead as MacIntyre struggles in Memphis
Jordan Spieth, Michael Thorbjornsen, and Michael Kim lead at five-under par, while Robert MacIntyre records a 12-over score in the first round at TPC Southwind.
The first round of the FedEx St Jude Championship, the opening event of the FedEx Cup playoffs, concluded on Thursday at TPC Southwind in Memphis with a five-way tie for the lead. Jordan Spieth, Michael Thorbjornsen, and Michael Kim shared the top spot at five-under par, setting a competitive tone for the postseason tournament.
Spieth, who entered the week facing pressure regarding his standing in the postseason conversation, delivered a strong opening statement with a score of 65. His performance marks a significant shift for a player who had been on the wrong side of the playoff qualification threshold heading into the event.
Michael Thorbjornsen also secured a share of the lead, bolstered by an eagle on the 16th hole. The American golfer’s performance, which included six birdies to finish at five-under, represents a notable step in his ascent within the sport, placing him alongside an elite field in a high-stakes playoff event.
Michael Kim rounded out the leaders at five-under par, missing the solo lead by a single stroke after carding six birdies. Kim’s round was defined by a steady accumulation of birdies, with only one bogey preventing him from taking the outright lead.
In the middle of the leaderboard, pre-tournament leader Scottie Scheffler finished in the top third of the field with a two-under 68. Last year’s FedEx Cup winner, Tommy Fleetwood, also found solid footing, posting a 66 to finish four-under and tie for sixth place alongside Sungjae Im and Hideki Matsuyama.
Im, who was on the bubble for playoff qualification, benefited from key birdie putts on the 14th and 17th holes to reach four-under. Matsuyama, the 2024 tournament winner, rebounded from a two-over start to finish at four-under, aided by five consecutive birdies late in his round.
At the other end of the spectrum, Robert MacIntyre recorded the highest score of the day with a 12-over 82. The Scottish golfer, who entered ranked 36th in the FedEx Cup standings, struggled significantly in the first nine holes, recording three bogeys, a double-bogey, and a triple-bogey to finish in last place.
Other notable struggles included Max Homa, who finished at three-over par as he continues to seek his form, and Justin Rose, the previous year’s champion. Rose posted a 73, including a double-bogey on the ninth hole, while Ryan Fox spiraled late in his round to finish at three-over after a triple-bogey on the 11th hole.
Rory McIlroy finished one spot above the bottom of the leaderboard, sitting just above MacIntyre’s score. The result places McIlroy in a precarious position as the tournament progresses, with the field tightly packed around the median scores.
