Scheffler Headlines 69-Player Field for $20M FedEx St. Jude Championship

Scottie Scheffler enters TPC Southwind as the top seed for the 2026 FedEx Cup playoffs, competing for a $3.6 million winner's share in Memphis.

Scottie Scheffler arrives at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, as the top-ranked golfer for the 2026 FedEx Cup playoffs. This opening postseason event features a $20 million total purse, offering a $3.6 million prize to the individual winner. The field consists of 69 competitors following the withdrawal of Daniel Berger, who occupied the 60th position in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season. Only the top 50 players in the points list after 72 holes in Memphis will advance to the second leg of the playoff series.

Key details

Matt Fitzpatrick enters the week as the No. 2 seed, trailing Scheffler in the season-long race. Cameron Young holds the third position, while Wyndham Clark and Chris Gotterup round out the top five at fourth and fifth respectively. These athletes are vying for the season-ending trophy currently held by Tommy Fleetwood, the defending FedEx Cup champion, who starts this tournament ranked ninth. Justin Rose, who secured the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship title by defeating J.J. Spaun in a playoff, returns to the course ranked 24th.

Standings within the top 15 remain highly competitive as players fight to secure their spots for the upcoming BMW Championship. Collin Morikawa occupies the sixth spot, followed by Si Woo Kim in seventh and Sam Burns in eighth. Ludvig Åberg completes the top 10. The remaining elite positions are held by Xander Schauffele at 11, Rory McIlroy at 12, Jacob Bridgeman at 13, Akshay Bhatia at 14, and Russell Henley at 15. Every stroke at TPC Southwind impacts the points distribution that determines the final 50-man roster for next week.

Latest developments

Broadcast coverage for the opening round begins Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 7:45 a.m. ET. Digital viewers can access the action through the ESPN App, the ESPN streaming hub, and Disney+. The Disney+ platform specifically hosts first-round coverage starting at the 7:45 a.m. ET window. For fans seeking wagering insights, the BetCast stream also launches at 7:45 a.m. ET daily via the ESPN App, providing real-time data and odds throughout the competition.

Linear television programming on ESPN is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. ET on both Thursday and Friday. During the weekend, the third and final rounds commence at 7:45 a.m. ET through digital platforms. The comprehensive digital broadcast includes a main feed, dedicated coverage of featured holes, and tracking of specific featured groups. While the early morning streaming remains consistent across all four days, the 9 a.m. ET linear window is reserved for the first two rounds of play.

TPC Southwind serves as the backdrop for this high-stakes opener where the margin for error is slim. Players ranked outside the top 50 must leapfrog their peers to extend their season. The ESPN golf hub serves as the primary repository for updated rankings, live scores, and individual player statistics as the tournament unfolds. All broadcast times are listed in Eastern Time and are subject to adjustment based on weather conditions or pace of play in Memphis. The pursuit of the $3.6 million winner's check begins with the first tee time on Thursday morning.