MEMPHIS, TN — At 8:10 a.m. ET on Thursday morning at TPC Southwind, 21-year-old rookie Jackson Koivun hits the opening tee shot of the FedExCup Playoffs as a solo player. Following Daniel Berger's injury withdrawal, Koivun — who qualified in 70th place — plays without a partner, ninety minutes before marquee pairing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy tee off.
Why Jackson Koivun Is Playing Alone
With Daniel Berger withdrawing due to injury, the field shrank to 69 competitors. Under PGA Tour regulations, an odd-numbered field without a cut leaves one golfer playing as a single. The slot fell to Koivun, who secured the 70th and final playoff spot by twelve points following a tense finish at the Wyndham Championship.
Koivun's rapid rise included winning the 3M Open in July at 25-under par — setting a tournament scoring record in just his third professional start — after making history as the first golfer to sweep the Haskins, Hogan, and Nicklaus awards twice while at Auburn.
Key Round 1 Morning Tee Times (All Times Eastern)
- 8:10 a.m. — Jackson Koivun (Single)
- 8:20 a.m. — Sam Stevens, Pierceson Coody
- 9:00 a.m. — Michael Thorbjornsen, Sepp Straka
- 9:10 a.m. — Tommy Fleetwood, Jordan Spieth
- 9:30 a.m. — Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler
- 10:25 a.m. — Russell Henley, Rickie Fowler
- 10:35 a.m. — Justin Thomas, Si Woo Kim
Scheffler and McIlroy Headlining the Morning Broadcast
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and World No. 2 Rory McIlroy pair together at 9:30 a.m. ET inside ESPN's linear morning window. Both stars enter Memphis with one victory apiece in 2026 — Scheffler at the American Express and McIlroy at the Masters. McIlroy sits 12th in the FedExCup standings, while Scheffler holds the top overall seed.
Opening the PGA Tour postseason with a solo 21-year-old rookie teeing off at 8:10 a.m. captures the raw mechanics of professional golf.
TPC Southwind Scoring Conditions and Stakes
TPC Southwind plays as a 7,288-yard, par-70 layout featuring seven par 4s measuring over 450 yards and water hazards on 11 holes. Comparing raw stroke totals across recent par-70 tour venues highlights Southwind's defensive nature:
- Sedgefield Country Club (7,131 yards): Michael Brennan won at 258 strokes (-22).
- Detroit Golf Club (7,328 yards): Michael Thorbjornsen won at 262 strokes (-18).
- TPC Southwind (7,288 yards): Justin Rose won in 2025 at 264 strokes (-16).
All 69 players will complete 72 holes with no cut. The top 50 in points following Sunday's final round advance to the BMW Championship at Bellerive while securing entry into all eight 2027 Signature Events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy tee off?
Scheffler and McIlroy tee off at 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday for Round 1 of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Why is Jackson Koivun playing as a single?
Daniel Berger withdrew due to an injury, leaving 69 players. Koivun, as the 70th seed, was assigned the solo 8:10 a.m. ET opening tee time.
What is the total purse and winner's share in Memphis?
The purse is $20 million, with $3.6 million and 750 FedExCup points awarded to the winner.
How can fans watch Round 1 coverage?
PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ streams from 7:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, ESPN carries linear coverage from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET, and Golf Channel broadcasts from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.
The Raw Take
Opening the PGA Tour postseason with a solo 21-year-old rookie teeing off at 8:10 a.m. captures the raw mechanics of professional golf. As Koivun sets the pace alone, the rest of the 69-player field begins a high-stakes battle for $20 million and top-50 security.