Memphis (USA), August 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian-origin golfers had modest opening rounds at the FedEx St. Jude Championship as the PGA Tour’s three-event FedExCup Play-offs got underway at TPC Southwind, while Jordan Spieth produced a bogey-free 65 to share the first-round lead.
Sahith Theegala was the best performer among the four, carding a 1-under 69 to finish tied 26th. Sudarshan Yellamaraju was next at tied 37th after an eventful even-par 70, while Akshay Bhatia and PGA Champion Aaron Rai both opened with 72s to sit tied 53rd.
Yellamaraju had an unusual stretch in which he made a double bogey and an eagle on successive holes. His round also included a birdie, a bogey and 14 pars. Starting the Play-offs at No. 57 in the FedExCup standings, he needs to move up the rankings to break into the top 50 and advance to next week’s BMW Championship.
Theegala began and finished with birdies and added two more during his round, but back-to-back bogeys on the 14th and 15th prevented him from making a stronger move.
Bhatia, who is supported by Hero, made two birdies against four bogeys, with three of his dropped shots coming between the 10th and 14th holes. Rai recorded four bogeys and two birdies.
Spieth, meanwhile, made an impressive start as he looks for his first victory in more than four years. He opened with eight straight pars before finding his rhythm, making four birdies over a five-hole stretch, including a 40-foot putt on the par-3 14th. His 5-under 65 put him in a five-way tie for the lead with Michael Thorbjornsen, Jake Knapp, Michael Kim and Kurt Kitayama.
The result was particularly important for Spieth and Kim, who began the tournament outside the FedExCup top 50. Players finishing inside the top 50 advance to the BMW Championship and secure places in all $20 million Signature Events next season.
Spieth finished 48th last year before dropping outside the top 50 ahead of the second Play-off event and has remained outside the top 50 over the past two seasons.
Defending FedExCup champion Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama, Gary Woodland and Adam Scott were among seven players tied at 66, one shot behind the leaders. Woodland and Scott, both just inside the top 30, could strengthen their positions for the TOUR Championship with a strong week.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a 68 at TPC Southwind, a course where he has played seven times without winning. He was paired with Masters champion Rory McIlroy, who shot 74 after finishing with a bogey, bogey and double bogey.
More than half the field had already secured places in the BMW Championship at Bellerive in St. Louis. The TOUR Championship also carries the incentive of qualification for all four major championships the following season.
Jackson Koivun, who won the 3M Open in his third start as a professional after entering the Play-offs as the final qualifier at No. 70, carded a 71. The field was reduced to 69 players after Daniel Berger opted not to compete.
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