Must-See: Friday’s Craziest Shots at FedEx St. Jude 2026
FedEx St. Jude Championship 2026: Friday Highlights & Leaderboard Update
Published: August 14, 2026 | By: ESPN Staff
What Is the FedEx St. Jude Championship?
Think of this tournament like a big playoff game in golf. It’s the first event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs on the PGA Tour. Only the top players qualify, and they’re competing for:
- A massive prize purse
- Critical FedEx Cup points
- A spot in the next playoff event
ELI5: Imagine the NBA playoffs, but for golf. The best players show up, and every shot matters extra because it decides who keeps playing for the championship.
Friday’s Big Story: A Traffic Jam at the Top
After Thursday’s first round, five players are tied for the lead at 5-under par. In golf, "under par" means they took fewer shots than the course expects—so lower is better.
Leaders After Round 1 (All at -5)
| Player | Fun Fact |
|---|---|
| Michael Thorbjornsen | Young rising star |
| Jordan Spieth | 3-time major winner, fan favorite |
| Kurt Kitayama | Known for powerful drives |
| Jake Knapp | First full PGA Tour season |
| Michael Kim | Former NCAA champion |
Important: Seven more players are just one shot behind at 4-under, including Sam Burns and Tommy Fleetwood. That means 12 players are separated by a single stroke—anyone could take the lead Friday!
What Happened Friday? (Round 2 Highlights)
The second round was played Friday, and ESPN has a live highlight feed embedded below with all the best shots:
Note: The live blog/iframe from the original article contains real-time video highlights, player interviews, and shot-by-shot updates. Visit the ESPN article to watch them.
Types of Highlights You’ll See:
- Approach shots landing inches from the hole
- Long putts dropping for birdie or eagle
- Recovery shots from tricky spots (rough, bunkers, trees)
- Player reactions – fist pumps, smiles, and sometimes disbelief
Why This Leaderboard Matters
1. Moving Day is Saturday
In golf, Saturday is called "Moving Day" because players try to climb the leaderboard before Sunday’s final round. With this many players bunched up, Saturday will be chaotic—in a good way.
2. Big Names in the Mix
- Jordan Spieth – Trying to win his first tournament since 2022
- Tommy Fleetwood – One of the best players without a major win
- Sam Burns – 5-time PGA Tour winner, great putter
3. New Faces Contending
Thorbjornsen, Knapp, and Kim are younger players looking for a breakthrough win. A playoff event is the perfect stage.
How to Follow the Rest of the Tournament
- Watch Live: CBS / NBC / Golf Channel (check local listings)
- Stream: PGA Tour Live on ESPN+
- Track Scores: ESPN Golf Leaderboard or PGATour.com
- Highlights: ESPN app, YouTube (PGA Tour channel), Twitter/X
Summary
- 5 players tied at -5 after Thursday (Round 1)
- 7 more at -4 – the leaderboard is packed
- Friday (Round 2) highlights available via ESPN’s live feed
- Weekend outlook: Expect big movement, drama, and great golf
- Key names to watch: Spieth, Fleetwood, Burns, plus the young guns
Bottom line: This is exactly what the PGA Tour wants—stars and new names battling it out with everything on the line.
FAQ
Q: What does "5-under par" mean?
A: Par is the expected number of strokes for a hole or course. "5-under" means the player took 5 fewer strokes than par total. In a 72-par course, that’s a score of 67.
Q: Why are so many players tied?
A: The course (TPC Southwind) is playing fair but tough. Good scores are possible, but one bad swing can cost you. Plus, these are the best players in the world—they’re all really good!
Q: What happens after this tournament?
A: This is the first of three playoff events. The top 50 in FedEx Cup points advance to the BMW Championship, then the top 30 go to the TOUR Championship in Atlanta.
Q: Can I watch the highlights for free?
A: Yes! ESPN’s website and app have free highlights. The live broadcast needs a cable login or streaming subscription.
Q: Who is the favorite to win?
A: With this leaderboard? Nobody knows. That’s why they play the weekend. Jordan Spieth has the pedigree, but Michael Thorbjornsen is playing fearless golf.