Scottie Scheffler dominated the St Jude Championship, claiming his first FedEx Cup play-off victory with a 17-under score. Rory McIlroy finished 66th, 25 strokes behind, admitting he felt lost due to poor swing execution. McIlroy, who hadn’t played competitively since July’s Open Championship, struggled with consistency, ranking 62nd in strokes gained from tee to green. Despite four birdies on the back nine, he ended with consecutive bogeys. Scheffler, paired with friend Sam Burns, outplayed Burns by seven shots. Burns tied for third with Alex Noren, while Wyndham Clark and Im Sung-jae followed. McIlroy emphasized needing to improve execution between now and the BMW Championship in St Louis. Scheffler praised his consistency, calling it a rewarding finish after a January win. The top 50 will advance to St Louis, with the top 30 moving to Atlanta’s $40m Tour Championship.

McIlroy’s performance raised concerns about his FedEx Cup title chances. His eight-over total left him ahead of only two players in the first playoff event. He noted lacking practice reps and difficulty finding rhythm. "I've just got to keep working," he said, acknowledging the need for significant improvement.

Scheffler’s victory marked a resurgence after a 10-month drought. His 66 included a bunker escape and a sprinkler mishap, but he remained composed. Burns and Noren shared third, while Clark and Im rounded out the top five. The FedEx Cup playoffs continue, with McIlroy’s focus now on stabilizing his game before the Tour Championship.