PGA TOUR HIGHLIGHTS | ROU D 4 | FEDEX ST. JUDE | 2026

 

CONCERNING TOMMY FLEETWOOD STAT EMERGES AT FEDEX ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP

 

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Tommy Fleetwood enters the weekend at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in contention, but one statistic has become a concern after two rounds at TPC Southwind. The Englishman has produced an elite all-around performance in Memphis, ranking among the best players in several key categories, but his putting numbers have prevented him from keeping pace with Scottie Scheffler’s record-setting start.

Fleetwood sits five shots behind Scheffler after opening rounds of 66 and 68, while Scheffler leads the tournament after following a first-round 68 with a second-round 61. Fleetwood has played strong golf from tee to green, but his struggles on the greens have created a challenge as he attempts to close the gap during the final two rounds of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup playoff opener.

After his second round, Fleetwood acknowledged the difficulty of chasing Scheffler but focused on controlling his own game. “What can we do about Scottie Scheffler? Just go out there and try to manage your game as best as possible. Shoot the best score you can and see what happens,” Fleetwood said.

Tommy Fleetwood Putting Numbers Raise Concern at FedEx St. Jude Championship

Through two rounds at TPC Southwind, Fleetwood’s putting has been the weakest part of an otherwise impressive statistical profile.

He is ranked 51st in strokes gained putting this week and has lost 1.022 strokes to the field on the greens.

The issue stands out because the rest of his game has been among the strongest in the tournament. Fleetwood ranks third in strokes gained off the tee, second around the green and 27th in strokes gained approach.

His ball-striking and short game have placed him in a strong position, but his putting performance has limited his ability to challenge Scheffler’s lead.

Fleetwood has not won on the PGA Tour this season, and his path to victory became more difficult after Scheffler’s second-round 61.

To have a chance at catching the world No. 1, Fleetwood will likely need two low rounds, with scores around 65 or better, while also improving on the greens.

Martin also noted Fleetwood’s statistical performance, writing that “the one part of his game that hasn’t been in tip-top shape this week is his putting.”

The third round will provide Fleetwood another opportunity to close the gap, but his putting will be a key factor if he hopes to turn his strong overall play into a serious challenge.

Scottie Scheffler Builds Lead as FedEx St. Jude Championship Moves Into Weekend

Scottie Scheffler of the United States. Getty

Scheffler enters the weekend in control of the FedEx St. Jude Championship after a remarkable second round at TPC Southwind.

His 9-under 61 moved him to the top of the leaderboard and created a significant challenge for players chasing him.

The leaderboard shows Scheffler at 11 under after 36 holes, with Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland tied for second at 8 under.

Fleetwood is part of a group at 6 under, alongside players including Nico Echavarria and Tom Kim.

Scheffler’s position has forced contenders like Fleetwood to focus on producing low scores while maintaining consistency.

Fleetwood, who tied for third at last year’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, entered this week with confidence after strong recent performances around TPC Southwind.

Reflecting on his comfort at the venue, Fleetwood noted after the opening round, “I’ve had two or three really good results around here. I was obviously playing very, very well last year. I put myself in a good position.”

Fleetwood will begin the third round paired with Nico Echavarria, with both players looking to move closer to Scheffler.

As the FedExCup playoffs continue, Fleetwood’s ability to improve his putting could determine whether his strong tee-to-green performance becomes a realistic title challenge.

- Debayan Biswas

TOMMY FLEETWOOD FADES AGAIN WHILE JUSTIN ROSE TAKES $3.6M FEDEX ST. JUDE PAYCHECK

Tommy Fleetwood again fell just short of his first PGA Tour title, finishing tied for third at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The Englishman started the third round leading by one stroke but was unable to avoid being overtaken by Justin Rose and JJ Spaun.

Justin Rose defeated JJ Spaun in a play-off at the FedEx Championship (Getty Images)

Fleetwood carded three birdies and two bogeys on Sunday for a final round score of 69, taking his 72-hole score to 15-under. His three birdies came between holes 12 and 15, when he temporarily regained the lead, but a bogey on the 17th eliminated his chances of challenging for the title in a playoff.

"I'm obviously going to be disappointed," he told the reporters after his final-round performance. "I think -- I said last time, there's a lot of positives to take, as much as I don't really -- I won't feel like that right now. I'm just going to look at what I feel like I could have done and how close it was. You know, we move on. There's another week that's next and I've just got to reflect on today and obviously keep pushing forward and try and put myself in that position again."

This is Fleetwood's sixth third-place finish in his PGA Tour career, with six other second-place finishes. The most recent of these came at the Travelers Championship, when he also lost to Keegan Bradley on the final hole.

Meanwhile, JJ Spaun and Rose finished tied in regulation at 16-under. Spaun fired 5-under for the final round to climb three spots on the leaderboard, while Rose carded three under, to tie for the lead.

The playoff extended to three holes. The Englishman took home his 12th career PGA Tour title, as well as the $3.6 million paycheck reserved for the winner.

"Played unbelievable golf coming down the stretch," Rose told the reporters after winning the event. "I had so much fun with it. 18 was playing perfectly for me today. If I pulled it, I carried it, if I held it up -- I hit a couple good putts in regulation and in the first playoff hole as well. Obviously J.J. dropped a bomb on me, I topped him. It was a lot of fun today."

"That's why I practice. That's why I play. I've been saying for some time now, obviously Augusta, when I bring my best, I know I'm good enough to play and to compete, and to now win against the best players in the world. Very gratifying day for me and a lot of hard work coming to fruition."

With this victory, Rose will climb to fourth in the FedEx Cup rankings, behind only Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and JJ Spaun. Rose already knows what it's like to win the FedEx Cup, having done so in 2018.

- Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, Newsweek

2024 FEDEX ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP | ROUND 3 HIGHLIGHTS

HEDEKI MATSUYAMA ROBBED AT AIRPORT AFTER WINNING BRONZE AT OLYMPICS

Hideki Matsuyama won bronze at the Olympics earlier this month.
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The first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs begins Thursday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tenn., but Olympics bronze medalist Hideki Matsuyama will be without his regular caddie and coach.

Matsuyama told Japan Golf Digest they were robbed at the London airport while traveling back from the Olympic Games in Paris, France. Matsuyama said his wallet was stolen, while his caddie, Shota Hiyato, and coach, Mikhito Kuromiya, lost their passports and visas.

Hiyato and Kuromiya had to return to Japan to fix their passport issues. The second playoff stop is next week’s BMW Championship in Colorado, and it’s unclear if they’ll return in time.

Matsuyama told reporters he’s using Taiga Tabuchi this week, who is the regular caddie for Japanese pro Ryo Hisatsune.

“I’m going to play golf as if I went back to the way I was before I had a coach,” Matsuyama said. “I feel like all the responsibility is on me.”

Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, is ranked eighth in the FedEx Cup standings, meaning he’s in good shape to play the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake.

He shot a final-round 65 at Le Golf National outside of Paris on Aug. 4, which was good enough to secure the bronze medal by one stroke over Victor Perez. Matsuyama said his medal was not stolen.

Matsuyama is paired with Sahith Theegala for the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, going off at 1:35 p.m. ET on Thursday.

- Josh Berhow