Scheffler, McIlroy lead FedEx St. Jude Championship, Lucas Glover leads

Posted : 12 August 2023

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have positioned themselves favorably at the midway point of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, where Lucas Glover has continued his recent strong performance to claim the lead.

Glover, who secured victory at the Wyndham Championship last week to secure his place in the FedExCup Playoffs, shot a flawless 6-under 64 at TPC Southwind, taking his total to 10-under and claiming the sole lead.

He holds a one-shot advantage over Jordan Spieth, who exhibited brilliant recovery skills to secure second place at nine-under. Sungjae Im, Tommy Fleetwood, Tom Kim, Emiliano Grillo, and Taylor Moore are two shots behind in a tie for third place.

However, the betting favorite has shifted to Scottie Scheffler, now at +600 after reaching seven-under, trailing by three shots. Rory McIlroy, along with Spieth, is also close on the betting boards at +700.

Glover is currently priced at +750 for back-to-back victories, followed by Fleetwood at +1100.

Examining the first 36 holes and predicting the next 36, several talking points emerge.

Glover is maintaining impressive momentum, but the challenge is sustaining it. As a former U.S. Open champion, Glover demonstrated skill with four birdies and an eagle in the second round, leading in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, a critical factor at TPC Southwind historically. However, his performance on the greens, reflected in Strokes Gained: Putting, remains a concern despite his remarkable ball striking.

Jordan Spieth's short game prowess has been crucial to his performance. Spieth's ability to save shots using short game magic, including impressive bunker hole-outs, has contributed to his rollercoaster journey. Although he ranks highly in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and Strokes Gained: Putting, his performance in Strokes Gained: Approach, hitting just eight greens in regulation on Friday, presents a challenge.

Scottie Scheffler's improved putting stands out. Despite an uncharacteristically subpar approach performance on Friday, Scheffler's solid putting places him at 15th in Strokes Gained: Putting. His strong position on the leaderboard suggests potential for success if he maintains his putting consistency and enhances his ball striking.

Rory McIlroy's putter held back his progress. Despite elevated approach play, McIlroy's struggles on the greens, missing several putts inside 15 feet, hindered his advancement. Excelling in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green and Strokes Gained: Approach, improving his putting could propel him into title contention and a possible return to World No. 1.

Cam Davis is showing strong intent. Despite ranking 62nd in the FedExCup standings initially, Davis's T8 position places him just three strokes behind the lead. This position projects him within the top 50 for the BMW Championship, offering him access to next season's Signature Events.

Harris English and Patrick Rodgers face challenges. Both English and Rodgers are on the brink of dropping out of the top 50, jeopardizing their spot in the BMW Championship. Their performance hinges on others' outcomes to secure their progression.

Sungjae Im's prowess in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green makes him a contender. Given TPC Southwind's emphasis on this statistic, Im's skillful performance bodes well for his chances.

In conclusion, the championship's dynamics suggest a competitive and exciting weekend ahead.

Scheffler, McIlroy lead FedEx St. Jude Championship, Lucas Glover leads

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