Quick summary: Scottie Scheffler produced a breathtaking putting turnaround on Friday at TPC Southwind, firing a career-low-tying 9-under 61 to match the 33-year-old course record and open a three-shot lead at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. After burning edges with 33 putts on Thursday, Scheffler recorded 13 one-putts in Round 2, gaining nearly four strokes on the greens alone.

The Seven-Shot Swing on the Greens

On Thursday, playing the exact same 18 holes, Scheffler signed for a two-under 68 and remarked that his ball-striking warranted a significantly lower number. The underlying metrics backed him up: he took 33 putts in a round filled with lip-outs and near-misses on Southwind's Bermuda greens.

Friday delivered an absolute clinic in scoring:

  • 13 one-putts across 18 holes (compared to just five in Round 1).
  • +3.874 Strokes Gained: Putting on Friday after losing strokes on the greens Thursday.
  • 54 total feet of putts holed during a 6-birdie blitz across his first seven holes alone.
  • 11 total birdies, matching the low mark for any single round at TPC Southwind in 2026.
"I felt like I hit it really well yesterday and just didn't get anything out of it. Today the putts actually went in."
— SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER

Tying the TPC Southwind Course Record

Scheffler's 61 ties the long-standing TPC Southwind tournament record, joining an elite company of just three players over 35+ years of professional tournament history at the Memphis venue:

  • Jay Delsing (1993): Final round 61 at the Federal Express St. Jude Classic.
  • Bob Estes (2001): Opening round 61 en route to victory.
  • Scottie Scheffler (2026): Second round 61, the first ever recorded during a FedExCup Playoff event.

This also marks the fourth 61 on the PGA Tour in just four weeks across three par-70 layouts (Detroit Golf Club, Sedgefield, and now Southwind). However, Southwind has historically played as the toughest test of the summer stretch, proving that this score was the result of extraordinary execution rather than a defenceless golf course.

The Playoff Implications and the East Lake Chase

Despite being the dominant world No. 1, Scheffler entered Memphis with only one victory in 2026 (the American Express in January). He has amassed 11 top-10 finishes, including five runner-ups, but the Tour's removal of the staggered start at the Tour Championship means this consistency guarantees no head start at East Lake.

To capitalize on his remarkable season, he needs trophies. History is firmly on his side: this is his eighth outright 36-hole lead since 2024, with the previous seven yielding four victories and six top-three finishes. He currently leads Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland by three strokes at 11-under 129 heading into the weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Scottie Scheffler shoot at the FedEx St. Jude Championship?

Scheffler shot a nine-under 61 in the second round, tying the TPC Southwind course record. He recorded 11 birdies and two bogeys for an 11-under 129 total.

Who else has shot 61 at TPC Southwind?

Jay Delsing in 1993 and Bob Estes in 2001. Scheffler is the third player in history to shoot 61 at this venue, and the first in a playoff event.

How did Scheffler improve so much from Round 1?

The improvement was almost entirely due to putting. After taking 33 putts on Thursday, he made 13 one-putts on Friday, gaining 3.874 strokes on the greens.

Who is chasing Scheffler on the leaderboard?

Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland sit three shots back at eight under, with Ludvig Åberg at seven under.

The Raw Take

Scheffler's Friday performance is the ultimate validation that elite tournament golf is decided on the greens. Hitting laser-like iron shots sets the baseline; holing 15-footers separates a solid 68 from a historic 61. If his putter stays this cooperative over the weekend, the debate over his 2026 season ends in Memphis.