Eagle lifts Jordan Spieth into first-round lead at St Jude Championship
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Jordan Spieth plays a second shot on the 18th hole during the first round.
PHOTO: AFP
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MEMPHIS – The feel-good factor played a part for Jordan Spieth, as he chipped in for eagle to take the first-round lead on Thursday at the St Jude Championship, the first leg of the FedExCup play-offs in Memphis, Tennessee.
The American’s eagle at the par-five 16th hole at a rain-logged TPC Southwind vaulted him into the driver’s seat at seven-under, and he made two pars to finish off a bogey-free 63.
“I was telling (caddie Michael Greller) maybe sometime on the back nine, I was like, I feel good, it doesn’t quite feel as tight as some of the days in the last week or so ball-striking,” Spieth said.
“Then all of a sudden I ended up hitting a good one on 15 and then chipping in on 16, and all of a sudden, now it’s three strokes better.”
Tom Kim of South Korea was in second at six-under 64, and Collin Morikawa and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo were tied for third at five-under 65. Lucas Glover, who qualified for the play-offs by winning last week’s Wyndham Championship, was part of a massive tie at four-under 66.
The top 70 players from the season-long FedExCup points race earned berths into the play-offs, and the top 50 in the standings after this tournament will advance to next week’s BMW Championship. The final 30 will advance to the season-ending Tour Championship.
There is no 36-hole cut at the St Jude Championship for the first time.
Three-time Major winner Spieth, the 2015 FedExCup champion, has not won on the PGA Tour since the RBC Heritage in April 2022. He has missed the cut in two of his last three starts in a season that has yet to take off.
After birdieing three of his first five holes, including a 26-foot putt at No. 5, he put his tee shot at the par-three 11th inside three feet of the cup and drained a 12-footer for birdie at No. 15.
Then came No. 16, where his second shot landed in a depression right of the green. His bump-and-run chip tracked straight into the cup.
The eagle pushed Spieth past Kim, who was playing for the first time since he tied for second at The Open Championship despite suffering an ankle injury in the first round.
“I’m going to need to be able to watch it for the next few days, making sure I don’t do anything bad because it’s going to take a few weeks to fully heal,” said Kim, who had seven birdies.
FedExCup points leader Jon Rahm of Spain had a double bogey and four bogeys en route to a three-over 73, putting him tied for 65th. Were he to finish the tournament that far down, he is still projected to hold onto the No. 1 spot.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, entering the week Nos. 2 and 3, each shot three-under 67.
Separately, Morikawa has pledged to donate US$1,000 (S$1,300) for every birdie he makes in the FedExCup play-offs to fire relief efforts in Hawaii.
The American, who has strong family ties to the island of Maui, made the announcement on Instagram on Thursday as the St Jude Championship teed off. REUTERS, AFP
