There is a lot at stake in Memphis.
While many players on the field are focused on chasing the trophy that will be handed out Sunday afternoon, dozens are hoping to work their way into the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings — or stay there — and earn a spot at next week’s BMW Championship. Any players who make it to the second postseason event will be ineligible for signature events in 2025.
Chris Kirk, who entered the FedEx St. Jude Championship ranked 28th in the FedEx Cup, was on top form with his irons on Thursday, shooting 64 (6 under par), with his hole-in-one being the highlight – we’ll get to that in a moment. Taylor Pendrith, Matthieu Pavon and Hideki Matsuyama are one stroke back in second place at 5 under par. Pendrith, who entered this week ranked 27th in the FedEx Cup, is also vying for a spot in the Presidents Cup, an event to be held in his native Canada later this year (he is currently 13th on the international team points list).
If you missed anything on Thursday, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind.
FedEx St. Jude: Photos | Start times on Friday
Chris Kirk threw darts on the first day
Chris Kirk started the week ranked 28th in the FedEx Cup standings, meaning he would make the field for the Tour Championship in Atlanta if it began today. But after a 6-under 64 in the first round, the Georgia Bulldog is expected to move up to third.
Kirk got going early with birdies on holes 2 and 3 before adding two more on the seventh and ninth to turn things around at 4-under-par 31. On the way home, Kirk made a birdie on the par-4 12th and sank his tee shot on the par-3 14th for an ace, his fourth hole-in-one on Tour.
“With a 6-iron, I’m usually 196 or 197. With the heat this week, everything goes a couple of feet further. Great number. I was looking a little bit further to the left, with water on the right side, but once I hit it, I hit it exactly how I wanted to hit it contact-wise, looked up, saw it started a little bit right but pulled right back,” he said of the ace. “Yeah, nice bonus.”
Kirk relied on his iron play in the first round and took first place in the Strokes Gained: Approach category.
His only drop shot of the day came on his last shot when his tee shot landed in a fairway bunker and he failed to get up and down from 100 yards.
Kirk has played well at TPC Southwind in the past, finishing 16th last season and 6th in 2018.
If he makes it to Atlanta, it would be his first appearance in East Lake since 2014.
The bronze medalist rolls
Hideki Matsuyama has finished in the top 20 in his last three trips to TPC Southwind, including a runner-up finish in 2021, so it’s no surprise to see him among the leaders in Memphis. However, after being robbed at a London airport, Matsuyama is playing without his regular caddie and coach.
Judging by his game, he doesn’t seem to be bothered by the inconveniences.
Matsuyama quickly recovered from a bogey on the par-5 3rd hole with a birdie on the par-3 4th and added two more on the seventh and ninth before turning the corner with a score of 2-under 33. After a birdie on the 12th hole, Matsuyama hit three straight circles on holes 14 through 16.
His momentum was somewhat hampered by a bogey on 17, but still, an opening 5-under-par performance is impressive under the circumstances.
The Japanese star was eighth in the FedEx Cup at the start of the week, so his status for Denver was never in doubt. Now it’s just a matter of placing for the Tour Championship.
Playoff Bubble Watch
Here’s a look at the projected final five finishers and the first five finishers eliminated after Day 1 in Memphis.
46. Matt Fitzpatrick (Straight, T-43)
47. Will Zalatoris (1 under, T-28)
48. Cam Davis (Straight, T-43)
49. Alex Noren (3 over, 68th)
50. Adam Scott (Straight, T-43)
51. Tom Kim (1 under par, T-58)
52. Brendon Todd (4 under par, T-5)
53. Mackenzie Hughes (Straight, T-43)
54. Max Greyserman (5 over, 70th)
55. Patrick Rodgers (1 under par, T-28)
Checking in with some notable names
Let’s take a look at where some big names stand after the opening round and where they are expected to finish in the FedEx Cup.
Scottie Scheffler: 4 under, T-5
Xander Schauffele: 4 under, T-5
Justin Thomas: 3 under, T-12
Wyndham Clark: 2 under, T-18
Rory McIlroy: 2 under, T-18
Collin Morikawa: 2 under, T-18
Jordan Spieth: 2 under, T-18
Will Zalatoris: 1 under, T-28
Max Hom: 1 under, T-28
Viktor Hovland: Even T-43
Tom Kim: 1 over, T-58
Shot of the day
Kirk made a hole-in-one on the par-3 14th hole on Thursday, his fourth career ace on the PGA Tour and his first since the 2021 World Wide Technology Championship, putting him at 7 under par for the day.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 5 things from the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship, including Hideki Matsuyama in the running despite robbery and playoff bubble watch
