Memphis: World number one Scotty Schaeffler of the United States delivered an outstanding performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, shooting a remarkable 9-under-par 61 in the second round to secure a solo lead. Schaeffler's impressive round began with five consecutive birdies, and he ended the day with a three-stroke lead in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
According to Thai News Agency, Schaeffler navigated the challenging conditions at TPC Southwind, where temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, to card 11 birdies and two bogeys. His two-day total of 11-under-par 129 ties the course record for the lowest round score in the tournament's history. Despite having played TPC Southwind seven times, Schaeffler is yet to claim a victory there, marking it as a unique record for any course on the PGA Tour.
Victor Hovland and Im Sung-jae find themselves tied for second place, trailing Schaeffler by three strokes with total scores of 8-under-par 132. Hovland shot a second-round 64, while Im recorded a 66 for the second consecutive day. Ludwig Oberg stands alone in fourth place with a 7-under-par total after his 65 in the second round.
Jordan Spieth, who was among the leaders after the first day, slipped to a tie for fifth place after shooting a 69 in the second round, bringing his total to 6-under-par. Spieth needs a strong showing to break into the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings to qualify for the upcoming BMW Championship.
Rory McIlroy, playing alongside Schaeffler for the first two days, improved his performance with a second-round 70 after an opening 74. However, his total score of 4-over-par places him in a tie for 60th, demanding significant improvement in the coming rounds.