Rory McIlroy Finishes 66th at TPC Southwind as Scheffler Wins by Eight

Rory McIlroy finished above only two players at the FedEx St. Jude Championship after posting a final-round 2-over 72.

Rory McIlroy concluded the FedEx St. Jude Championship in 66th place out of 68 players, finishing the tournament with a 2-over-par 72 on Sunday. The Northern Irishman failed to break par in any of his four rounds at TPC Southwind, leaving him ahead of only two other competitors in the field. This performance marked his first competitive appearance since last month's Open Championship. While McIlroy struggled, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler secured his first victory since January, finishing with an eight-shot lead in Memphis.

Scheffler’s dominant performance represents his 21st win since the beginning of 2022. This total is ten more victories than McIlroy, his nearest rival, has achieved in the same timeframe. Despite the disappointing result in the first event of the FedEx Cup playoffs, McIlroy remains mathematically assured of a spot in the 30-man Tour Championship field. He is currently pursuing a record-breaking fourth FedEx Cup title, having last won the season-long trophy in 2022.

Struggles with Swing Execution at TPC Southwind

McIlroy described his current form as "lost," noting that his golf swing felt increasingly out of sync as the week progressed. He attributed some of the difficulties to a lack of practice and competitive repetitions leading into the event. The world No. 2 admitted that his execution was absent throughout the four days in Memphis, stating he felt "so far away" from the level required to compete for a title.

The Northern Irishman expressed that the tournament served primarily to shake off rust, though he acknowledged the need for significant improvement before the next stage of the playoffs. He noted that the discrepancy between his current game and his required standard is substantial, emphasizing that he did not feel he had a chance to win given his performance at TPC Southwind.

Preparation for the BMW Championship

The PGA Tour schedule moves next to Bellerive in St. Louis for the BMW Championship, the second event of the postseason. McIlroy indicated he must "grind" and put his head down to find his game before the tournament begins next Thursday. He stated that his focus will be entirely on fixing his swing mechanics and execution during the short interval between playoff events.

Although his 66th-place finish was a setback, the Northern Irishman is looking for a quick turnaround to remain competitive for the remainder of the postseason. He reiterated that he must work hard to feel like he has any sort of golf game heading into the St. Louis event. The goal remains to find enough form to contend for the championship at East Lake, regardless of the specific outcome at Bellerive.

Comparative Stats and Playoff Outlook

Scottie Scheffler’s eight-stroke margin of victory further widened the gap between the top two players in the world rankings. While Scheffler has amassed 21 wins since 2022, McIlroy remains his closest pursuer in terms of total victories during that period. The FedEx St. Jude Championship served as a stark contrast between Scheffler's efficiency and McIlroy's search for rhythm.

McIlroy’s 72 on Sunday capped a week where he could not find the consistency needed to climb the leaderboard. He will now transition to the BMW Championship hoping to rediscover the form that previously led him to three FedEx Cup titles. The Northern Irishman concluded that he is simply hoping for a turnaround as he heads into the final stretch of the season.