Golf pro Fleetwood establishes commanding advantage at the inaugural event of the PGA Tour playoffs
Tommy Fleetwood's PGA Tour Title Quest Continues at St. Jude Championship
Tommy Fleetwood, ranked 15th in the world, is still chasing his elusive first PGA Tour title, despite a win-less streak of 162 starts, which includes seven second-place finishes. This ongoing saga took a new turn at the FedEx Cup St. Jude Championship, where Fleetwood held a 54-hole lead but ultimately finished tied for second in a thrilling playoff between Justin Rose and J.J. Spaun.
Fleetwood's stellar performance at the TPC Southwind saw him lead after 36 holes with rounds of 63 and 64. His game was on point, excelling in key statistical categories such as Driving Accuracy, Strokes Gained: Approach, and Greens in Regulation. After 54 holes, he was one stroke clear at 14-under but then bogeyed three of his final four holes, including a crucial missed 5-foot par putt on the 17th, which dropped him behind the eventual playoff contenders.
Despite this setback, Fleetwood's performance secured him a spot in the BMW Championship and Tour Championship that follow. His current form is impressive, as he is ranked 4th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total and leads in Driving Accuracy and Approach stats at the event.
Fleetwood started his round with four straight birdies on Thursday, including a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 fourth hole. However, his only bogey came at the final hole on Thursday. He holed a pair of 15-foot birdie putts on the 13th and 14th holes, and reached the par-5 16th in two and two-putted for a fourth straight birdie.
Meanwhile, other notable performances include Kurt Kitayama, who shot the low score of the round at 63, moving him into the top five on the leaderboard. Bud Cauley, at No. 53 in the FedEx Cup, also had a good round, shooting 69 and is tied for 7th.
Canada's Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton, Ont., is tied for 48th at par, while Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is tied for 39th at 1 under. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., are tied for 31st at 2 under.
Scottie Scheffler, despite three bogeys on the back nine, shot a 66 and is six shots behind Fleetwood. Storms forced play to be suspended until Saturday morning, but when play resumes, Fleetwood will still be four shots ahead of Collin Morikawa and Akshay Bhatia.
Fleetwood's chance at a PGA Tour title is still ongoing at the TPC Southwind, and his persistent quest for a first win remains a major storyline. Despite multiple close runner-up results, Fleetwood is yet to break through on the PGA Tour, but his impressive performance at the St. Jude Championship has kept hopes alive for a potential victory.
At the TPC Southwind, Tommy Fleetwood's PGA Tour title pursuit continues after an impressive display, moving him closer to a potential victory. Meanwhile, news from Toronto includes Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners, both Canadian golfers, performing well, with Hughes tied for 48th and Conners tied for 39th.
