FedEx St. Jude Championship 2026 Preview: Everything You Need to Know
The 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship marks the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs, bringing the PGA TOUR’s leading players to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. The tournament carries a $20 million purse and offers 750 FedExCup points to the winner, while the 70-player playoff field competes for valuable positions heading into the BMW Championship.
For golf fans, the tournament represents the beginning of the season’s decisive three-event playoff series. The field has been reduced to the top 70 in the FedExCup standings, making every shot important as players try to move into the top 50 and continue to the next stage.
Whether you follow the PGA TOUR throughout the season or are tuning in for the playoffs, this guide covers the key details: dates, venue, defending champion, FedExCup points, prize money and the leading contenders for 2026.
When Is The FedEx St. Jude Championship 2026?
The 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship is scheduled for Thursday 13 August through Sunday 16 August at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. It is the first tournament of the 2026 FedExCup Playoffs, following the conclusion of the PGA TOUR regular season.
The event is not simply another regular-season tournament. Only players who finish inside the top 70 of the FedExCup standings are eligible, although the 2026 field is expected to contain 69 of those 70 players. The playoff structure then reduces the field to the top 50 for the BMW Championship, followed by the top 30 for the TOUR Championship.
That makes the week particularly important for players around the qualifying line. A strong finish can improve a player’s position and help secure another week of playoff golf, while a poor result can bring the season’s FedExCup campaign to an early end.
Where Is The FedEx St. Jude Championship Held?
The tournament is held at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. The course is a par-70 layout measuring 7,288 yards and has hosted the FedEx St. Jude Championship since the event became the opening tournament of the FedExCup Playoffs.
TPC Southwind is known for its demanding layout, with water hazards and strategically positioned hazards creating difficult decisions throughout the round. Players need to combine accurate approach play with good course management, particularly when deciding how aggressively to attack certain holes.
The Memphis setting also means players must contend with typical August conditions, although the precise effect of heat, humidity and wind varies from day to day. Rather than assuming that firm conditions will automatically dominate, players and caddies will need to adapt to the actual weather and course setup during tournament week.
Who Won The FedEx St. Jude Championship 2025?
Justin Rose won the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship, finishing at 16 under par with a four-round total of 264. Rose carded rounds of 64, 66, 67 and 67 to finish ahead of J.J. Spaun, who also ended at 16 under. Rose won the title in a playoff after the two players were tied following 72 holes.
Rose’s victory earned him $3.6 million and 2,000 FedExCup points under the 2025 playoff points system. His performance also continued the event’s tradition of producing a highly competitive leaderboard at TPC Southwind.
Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood finished tied for third at 15 under, while Cameron Young rounded out the top five at 11 under. The result provided a useful reminder that strong ball-striking and consistent scoring can keep players in contention at Southwind, but the final outcome can still come down to a handful of crucial shots.
How Many FedEx Points Do You Get For Winning St. Jude Championship?
The 2026 winner receives 750 FedExCup points. This is an important change from the 2,000-point allocation used for the first two FedExCup Playoffs events in previous seasons. The PGA TOUR’s official 2026 event information lists 750 FedExCup points for the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
The points remain important because the playoff field is determined by FedExCup position. The tournament begins with the top 70 players from the regular-season standings, with the top 50 advancing to the BMW Championship and the top 30 ultimately reaching the TOUR Championship.
As a result, players near the cutoff have particularly strong incentives to produce a high finish. The points earned in Memphis can make the difference between progressing to the next playoff event and seeing a season end after one week.
What Is The Purse For The FedEx St. Jude Championship?
The 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship has an official purse of $20 million. The figure has therefore been confirmed rather than remaining an estimate.
The 2025 tournament also carried a $20 million purse, with Justin Rose receiving $3.6 million for his victory. The substantial prize fund reflects the tournament’s status as the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs and provides another major incentive for the players competing in Memphis.
However, the FedExCup implications are arguably just as important as the prize money. Players are competing not only for earnings but also for improved positions in the playoff standings and a place in the next stage of the postseason.
Who Are The Favourites To Win The FedEx St. Jude Championship?
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy headline the early betting and analytical attention surrounding the 2026 tournament, with Scheffler entering the playoffs as the leading favourite in current markets. Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood and other high-ranked players are also among the names attracting attention.
Scheffler is particularly significant because of his position at the top of the FedExCup standings and his sustained level of performance on the PGA TOUR. McIlroy brings another major championship-calibre résumé, while Schauffele has established himself as one of the TOUR’s most consistent players in elite fields.
The 2026 field is made up of the players who qualified through their FedExCup positions, so the tournament features many of the leading players from the season. Still, being a favourite does not guarantee success: TPC Southwind can reward accurate, disciplined golf, and four rounds create plenty of opportunities for the leaderboard to change.
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