Five Golfers Share Record Lead After Round 1 of FedEx St. Jude Championship

A record five golfers are tied for the lead after the first round of the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship, marking the first time this has occurred in FedEx Cup Playoffs history.

What Happened

The opening round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship saw an unprecedented five-way tie for the lead. Among those at the top is Jordan Spieth, who entered the tournament ranked 54th in the FedEx Cup standings. Spieth shot a 5-under par 65 on Thursday, which propelled him to a projected 22nd place in the overall standings.

Key Facts

• Five golfers were tied for the lead after the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
• This five-way tie is a record for an 18-hole lead in FedEx Cup Playoffs history.
• Jordan Spieth shot a 5-under 65 in the first round.
• Spieth entered the tournament ranked 54th in the FedEx Cup standings.
• Following his first round, Spieth was projected to be 22nd in the FedEx Cup standings.
• Michael Thorbjornsen, Kurt Kitayama, Jake Knapp, and Michael Kim also share the lead.
• The tournament is taking place at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
• The FedEx St. Jude Championship is part of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
• The second round is scheduled for Friday, August 14, 2026.

Background

The FedEx St. Jude Championship is the opening event of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs. Golfers compete to advance through the playoff system, aiming to reach the BMW Championship, which features a field of 70 players. Scottie Scheffler holds a commanding lead in FedEx Cup points entering this event.