2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship Thursday tee times: Round 1 groupings

The 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship is set to begin Thursday with the opening round at TPC Southwind in Memphis. Fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, with the first event drawing a star-studded field.

Key details for Round 1 of the FedEx St. Jude Championship:

• Tee Times: The first tee shots of the tournament will go off at 7:45 a.m. ET. Complete Round 1 tee times are listed below.
• Broadcast Coverage: Thursday's opening round will be broadcast on ESPN from 9-11 a.m. ET, followed by Golf Channel from 2-6 p.m. ET. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage starting at 7:45 a.m. ET.
• Featured Groups: All eyes will be on the marquee pairing of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler: A Rivalry Renewed

Rory McIlroy enters the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship with a less-than-typical season by his standards. Despite being ranked World No. 2, he currently sits 12th in the FedEx Cup standings as the playoffs commence in Memphis. With only three events remaining in the season, McIlroy has secured just one victory, a statistic unusual for a player of his caliber. This mirrors the situation for his primary rival for the FedEx Cup, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Both players are seeking their second wins of the year, a crucial step to differentiate themselves in the race for Player of the Year.

McIlroy and Scheffler will kick off the tournament together on Thursday, scheduled to tee off in the same group at 9:30 a.m. ET. Their pairing is expected to draw significant attention from fans on-site and viewers worldwide.

2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship Thursday Tee Times: Round 1 (ET)

Tee No. 1

• 8:10 a.m. – Jackson Koivun
• 8:20 a.m. – Sam Stevens, Pierceson Coody
• 8:30 a.m. – Harris English, Maverick McNealy
• 8:40 a.m. – Alex Noren, Eric Cole
• 8:50 a.m. – Nico Echavarria, Ryo Hisatsune
• 9:00 a.m. – Michael Thorbjornsen, Sepp Straka
• 9:10 a.m. – Tommy Fleetwood, Jordan Spieth
• 9:20 a.m. – Tom Kim, Ludvig Åberg
• 9:30 a.m. – Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler
• 9:45 a.m. – Gary Woodland, Alex Smalley
• 9:55 a.m. – J.T. Poston, Robert MacIntyre
• 10:05 a.m. – Kristoffer Reitan, Ryan Gerard
• 10:15 a.m. – Kurt Kitayama, Nicolai Højgaard
• 10:25 a.m. – Russell Henley, Rickie Fowler
• 10:35 a.m. – Justin Thomas, Si Woo Kim
• 10:45 a.m. – Viktor Hovland, Hideki Matsuyama
• 10:55 a.m. – Brian Harman, Jordan Smith
• 11:05 a.m. – Ricky Castillo, Matti Schmid
• 11:20 a.m. – Harry Hall, Corey Conners
• 11:30 a.m. – Shane Lowry, Max Homa
• 11:40 a.m. – Sungjae Im, Sudarshan Yellamaraju
• 11:50 a.m. – Matt McCarty, Keith Mitchell
• 12:00 p.m. – Sahith Theegala, Patrick Cantlay
• 12:10 p.m. – Ben Griffin, Jake Knapp
• 12:20 p.m. – Chris Gotterup, Min Woo Lee
• 12:30 p.m. – Michael Brennan, Justin Rose
• 12:40 p.m. – Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick
• 12:55 p.m. – Alex Fitzpatrick, J.J. Spaun
• 1:05 p.m. – Akshay Bhatia, Jacob Bridgeman
• 1:15 p.m. – Bud Cauley, Aaron Rai
• 1:25 p.m. – Ryan Fox, Adam Scott
• 1:35 p.m. – Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns
• 1:45 p.m. – Cameron Young, Collin Morikawa
• 1:55 p.m. – Nick Taylor, Michael Kim
• 2:05 p.m. – Aldrich Potgieter, Patrick Rodgers

TPC Southwind: A Challenging Test

TPC Southwind is renowned for its challenging fairways, strategically placed water hazards, and fast greens. The course demands precision, strategic thinking, and flawless execution from players. In the high-stakes environment of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, where every shot counts, the course presents a significant test. For Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, this tournament is more than just another event; it's a critical juncture in their pursuit of the season's ultimate prize and the title of Player of the Year.

Season Context and Expectations

The 2026 season has already delivered numerous compelling storylines. While players like Scottie Scheffler have shown dominance, the competition remains fierce. Other stars, including Rory McIlroy, are looking to peak at the right time and make a strong push in the playoffs. The FedEx St. Jude Championship serves as the opening act of the postseason, and the results here will significantly shape the narrative of the FedEx Cup race. Players who perform well in Memphis will carry momentum and psychological advantage into the final stages of the playoffs.