PGA Tour Playoffs Heat Up At St. Jude Tournament - Golf Daily Roundup

Tommy Fleetwood leads the St. Jude Tournament at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour Playoffs.

At the halfway stage of the St. Jude Tournament, the first event of the PGA Tour Playoffs, Tommy Fleetwood holds the lead. He sits on top of the PGA Tour Leaderboard heading into the weekend. The Englishman backed his opening 63 with a 64, moving to -13. He climbed from 9th to a projected 2nd in the FedExCup standings.

Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler created an unexpected talking point. Known for his calm demeanor and unshakable focus, the World No. 1 was seen talking to himself after few shots in Round 2. This rare display of emotion surprised golf fans and highlighted just how intense a Playoff event can become.

The PGA Tour Playoffs feel more global than ever. This season, 20 countries are represented in the current Top 70 of the FedExCup standings. From the U.S., England, and Canada to Japan, Sweden, and Australia, the fight for advancement spans the globe.

Fleetwood’s Friday featured crisp iron play and a hot putter, with just a single bogey. Despite that blemish, he built a four-shot lead over a trio of challengers heading into the weekend. Still chasing his first PGA Tour win, Fleetwood now faces the tougher challenge of doing it in a Playoff event. With the field’s strength and the stakes so high, the next two rounds will test his nerve.

Morikawa, Bhatia, and Rose in the Chase

Collin Morikawa made his move with a 65 to reach -9. He leapt from 19th to a projected 10th in FedExCup points. Akshay Bhatia, the first-round leader, carded a 69 to stay tied at -9, holding 16th in the projections. Justin Rose is also at -9 after starting the day two shots back of Bhatia. He still has two holes left to complete his second round.

Kitayama and Novak Make Big Jumps

Kurt Kitayama fired the round of the day—a 63—to climb into T5 at -8. In the process soaring 22 spots in the projections to 30th. Andrew Novak matched Fleetwood’s 64, moving into a secure playoff position at 12th.

Scheffler in Contention, Cauley Hangs In

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (-7) remains steady after a 66, still projected No. 1 in the standings. Although well placed, Scottie surprised fans by talking to himself after several shots in the second round. For a player known for calm focus and a poker face, this sudden burst of vocal reactions was unusual. It showed that even the most composed golfer can feel the pressure of a Playoff event. Bud Cauley is also T7, while Jacob Bridgeman is making headlines mid-round at -7 through 17.

Movement in the Middle Pack

Si Woo Kim (-6) improved his projected rank from 46th to 39th. Ludvig Åberg and J.J. Spaun are also T11, staying comfortably inside the Top 50. Sepp Straka, Chris Kirk, and Wyndham Clark sit at -5.

Bubble Watch Intensifies

This week’s St. Jude Tournament is the final chance to break into the Top 50 in FedEx Cup. Rickie Fowler (-4, projected 58th), Jordan Spieth (-1, projected 50th), and Chris Kirk (projected 52nd) are all hovering near or over the cutline. They all need to go low over the weekend to secure a spot in the Top 50.

In the FedExCup Playoffs, the stakes are huge. The tournament winner collects 2,000 points, meaning a single great week can launch a player up the standings.

What’s on the line? Players who finish inside the Top 50 this week secure spots in all eight Signature Events next season. They also gain full exemption for the entire PGA Tour schedule, including every full-field event and The Players Championship. The fight for 50th is every bit as intense as the race for the trophy.

Notables Slipping Back

Harry Hall struggled with a 72 to fall to -4 and drop 19 spots in the projections. Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Taylor, and Hideki Matsuyama are all at -2 and will need a big weekend to climb. Big names like Viktor Hovland (+2) and Shane Lowry (+2) are fighting just to make a meaningful move before Sunday.

Round 3 Outlook

With Fleetwood four shots ahead and a pack of proven winners chasing, moving day at the St. Jude Tournament promises fireworks. Players on the bubble will attack pins, and every birdie or bogey could swing the race for the PGA Tour Playoffs Top 50.

Watch the Highlights

Relive the action from Rounds 1 and 2. The clutch putts, spectacular shots, and leaderboard shake-ups in the official PGA Tour highlights.