Scottie Scheffler Shoots 61 to Take a Three-Shot FedEx St. Jude Lead, and Jordan Spieth's Week Just Got Real

Image: PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Scottie Scheffler did not just grab the lead in Memphis.

He basically reminded the entire playoff field that the best player in the world can still turn a big-money week into office hours whenever he feels like it.

Official PGA TOUR round-two coverage published on Friday, August 14, 2026, plus the official FedEx St. Jude Championship leaderboard checked again on Saturday morning, August 15, show Scheffler shot a 9-under 61 to get to 11 under and open a three-shot lead at TPC Southwind.

The same official sources show Viktor Hovland and Sungjae Im tied for second at 8 under, Ludvig Aberg alone in fourth at 7 under, and Jordan Spieth part of a tie for fifth at 6 under after opening the week outside the top 50 in the FedExCup standings.

This piece is based on the official PGA TOUR / Associated Press round-two recap published Friday, August 14, 2026, plus the official leaderboard checked Saturday, August 15. No pretending I was standing greenside in 100-degree heat counting one-putts with a clipboard.

For the lead-in first, read our Tuesday bubble setup on why Memphis really starts at No. 49, our Friday piece on Spieth’s opening 65, and the earlier Wyndham column on why this stretch is supposed to feel nasty.

Scheffler’s Friday Was the Whole Terrifying Package

The official round-two recap says Scheffler:

• birdied the first five holes
• made 11 birdies total
• made just two bogeys
• tied the TPC Southwind tournament course record

That is not a “nice round.”

That is a week-flipping round.

The same official recap says he reached 11-under 129 and has now played TPC Southwind seven times without a win, more than any other course on his PGA TOUR schedule without cashing the trophy. So yes, the weird little “Scottie has not won here yet” note still exists.

It also looks a lot less sturdy when he is shooting 61.

Hovland and Im Are Close Enough to Matter

This is not a runaway yet.

Official PGA TOUR coverage says Hovland got to 8 under with a 64, while Im posted his second straight 66 to land at the same number. Aberg is just one more back at 7 under.

That matters because this is still a real weekend leaderboard, not just Scheffler lapping the field by Saturday breakfast.

If you want recent proof that Hovland can absolutely make a Sunday with Scheffler feel uncomfortable, revisit our Travelers playoff recap and the earlier Sunday column on why that pairing was healthy for the Tour.

Spieth’s Round Was Smaller Than Thursday’s, but Probably More Important

The clean headline belongs to Scheffler.

The more useful middle-of-the-board development might still be Spieth.

The official recap says Spieth followed his opening 65 with a 69 to reach 6 under. The official leaderboard checked on Saturday morning, August 15 then showed him moving from 54th in the official FedExCup standings to a projected 44th.

That is the whole point of this week.

Spieth did not come to Memphis needing moral victories. He came needing numbers that change next week too. Two rounds later, he is still inside the top five on the leaderboard and, at least for now, on the safe side of the BMW Championship line.

The Other End of the Story Is Rory

The same official PGA TOUR recap says Rory McIlroy followed an opening 74 with a 70 and sat tied for 60th at 4 over after 36 holes.

That does not make Rory irrelevant long term, because obviously it does not.

But for this weekend, it is a sharp contrast with Scheffler.

One guy spent Friday making the playoff opener feel smaller. The other spent it trying to drag the week back into usefulness.

Bottom Line

Checked on Saturday morning, August 15, 2026, the official PGA TOUR round-two recap and the official FedEx St. Jude Championship leaderboard show Scottie Scheffler leading at 11 under after a 61, with Viktor Hovland and Sungjae Im three back at 8 under.

The same official leaderboard shows Jordan Spieth at 6 under and up to a projected 44th in the FedExCup race after beginning the week 54th.

So yes, Scheffler owns the headline.

But the playoff math underneath him is finally getting loud too.