Early performance at the FedEx St. Jude tournament shows Akshay Bhatia leading the pack, having shot an impressive score of 62.
Akshay Bhatia Takes Early Lead at FedEx St. Jude Championship
In the opening round of the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship, Akshay Bhatia set the pace at TPC Southwind in Memphis, shooting an impressive 8-under-par 62 to take a one-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood 14.
Bhatia's strong start included four birdies on the front nine, an eagle on the par-5 16th hole, a bogey on the 12th hole, followed by birdies on the 17th and 18th holes. This round was a career-best for Bhatia, marking a strong start in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, moving him to the top of the leaderboard after round one 2.
Tommy Fleetwood, with five top-10 finishes this season, including a near-victory at the Travelers Championship in June, is close behind, having shot 7-under across his final 11 holes on Thursday 14.
Other notable players in the top positions after the first round include Harry Hall, Justin Rose, and Bud Cauley, all tied at -6, and Scottie Scheffler at -3 (67) 14.
Justin Rose had seven birdies and only one bogey on Thursday, while Bud Cauley birdied Nos. 10, 12, 15, 16, and 17 on Thursday, all of the putts inside 15 feet. However, Cauley dropped back to 6 under after an approach on 18 found water and a bogey 14.
Si Woo Kim scored a 65 in the first round, and Rory McIlroy, the second-ranked player, opted to skip the playoff opener at the St. Jude 1.
The tournament is contested on the TPC Southwind course, a par 70 playing roughly 7,288 yards 1. Those who finish Sunday ranked in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup points standings qualify for the second round of the playoffs next week in Owings Mills, Md.
However, Bhatia has struggled recently, not recording a top-10 finish since March and missing four cuts and withdrawing after one round in another event 1. With a strong performance in the first round, Bhatia aims to turn his season around and secure a spot in the next round of the playoffs.
- The art of golf will be showcased on the global stage as Akshay Bhatia's impressive performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship sets the news world abuzz.
- With top-ranked players like Rory McIlroy opting out of the tournament, the sporting world watches as Bhatia triumphs at TPC Southwind, a championship course that's no stranger to world-class travel.
- As Akshay Bhatia charts a fresh course in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the world waits to see if he can sustain his lead and secure a top spot in the next round, setting the stage for further sporting updates.
