The 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship started today, August 13, at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, marking the beginning of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The tournament runs through August 16 and features the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup points standings, though Daniel Berger, ranked 60th, did not commit and is absent, leaving 69 players in the field. There is no cut, ensuring all players complete four rounds while competing for crucial points to advance in the playoffs. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The players compete on TPC Southwind, a par 70 course measuring 7,288 yards. The course presents a unique challenge with some of the smallest greens on the PGA Tour, averaging 4,300 square feet, demanding precision from the players. [5, 6]
The tournament carries a purse of $20 million and offers quadruple FedEx Cup points compared to regular PGA Tour events, intensifying the stakes as the players seek to claim one of 50 spots advancing to the BMW Championship next week. [1, 7, 8, 6]
Scottie Scheffler enters the championship as the betting favorite, with odds ranging from +450 to +550 depending on the source. [1, 7, 8, 9, 6, 10] CBS Sports golf writer Patrick McDonald said, "Scheffler has been flat-out sensational all season with five runner-up finishes and three other top-five finishes since the start of the major championship season. He's doing too many things too well to go through 2026 with only one win, and if he only gets one more, it will come at East Lake (although he'll get more than just one)." [11]
Rory McIlroy is another top contender, with odds between +1000 and +1300. He returns to the St. Jude Championship after skipping last year's event. [2, 7, 8, 9, 6, 10] Other notable players include Xander Schauffele and Sam Burns, whose odds range from +1800 to +2000. However, a computer simulation model by Mike McClure predicts Schauffele will not finish in the top 10. [1, 7, 8, 9]
Recent Wyndham Championship winner Michael Brennan is considered a longshot factor, priced between +4500 and +6000, based on his strong recent form. [12, 5, 3, 10] A simulation model also recommends a golf parlay with potential payout of $45,000 on a $10 bet, including picks like Russell Henley over Si Woo Kim. [12, 5, 10]
Notable players just outside the likely cut-line to advance to the BMW Championship include Max Homa, Sungjae Im, and Jordan Spieth, all needing solid performances to move on. [2, 3, 4]
First-round tee times began this morning at 7:45 a.m. ET, with the featured pairing of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy teeing off at 9:30 a.m. ET. CBS Sports and Golf Channel are providing extensive coverage, including streaming options and national TV windows during the weekend. [9, 10, 4]
The FedEx Cup Playoffs also feature a new Tour Championship format where all 30 players start on equal footing, adding unpredictability to the final rounds in coming weeks. [11]
The FedEx St. Jude Championship concludes on August 16, when the top 50 players will secure their place in next week's BMW Championship. [1, 2, 4]
