Playoff Disaster: Spieth & Mitchell Drowned by Water
Golf Playoffs Heartbreak: Mitchell and Spieth Miss the Cut by a Whisker
What Happened at the FedEx St. Jude Championship?
Imagine playing a game where you need to be in the top 50 to move to the next round. That’s exactly what happened at the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday, August 16, 2026. This was the first of three playoff events in the FedEx Cup postseason on the PGA Tour.
Two popular players—Keith Mitchell and Jordan Spieth—had a really tough day. They both hit their golf balls into the water on the final holes, and that tiny mistake cost them their chance to keep playing in the playoffs.
The Magic Number: Top 50
Important Point: Only the top 50 players in the points standings after this tournament get to advance to the next playoff event—the BMW Championship in St. Louis. Making the top 50 also guarantees entry into all the special "Signature Events" next year (these are tournaments with $20 million prize purses!).
Who Made It and Who Didn’t
| Player | Final Standing | Points Gap | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maverick McNealy | 50th | Made it exactly! | Advances |
| Keith Mitchell | 51st | 7.819 points short | Eliminated |
| Jordan Spieth | 52nd | Just outside | Eliminated |
| Brian Harman | 65th | Far back | Eliminated |
Keith Mitchell’s Dramatic Final Hole
Mitchell came to the 18th hole needing a good score to sneak into the top 50. Here’s what happened:
- Tough tee shot: He hit his 3-wood well, but a gust of wind knocked it down short
- Brave attempt: He took off his shoes and socks, rolled up his pants, and stood calf-deep in water to hit his next shot
- Heartbreak: The ball bounced off the bank and rolled back into the water
- Result: He made bogey (one over par) and finished 51st—just 7.819 points short
Mitchell said: "I didn’t look at the leaderboard all day… I knew I was one back [needing one more stroke]. I absolutely struck my 3-wood. Thought it was perfect. Caught a little bit of a gust."
Jordan Spieth’s Rollercoaster Round
Spieth had a real up-and-down day:
- Front nine (holes 1-9): 2-under par → climbed to #45 in standings (safe!)
- Holes 11 & 12: Two bogeys → fell outside top 50
- Hole 13: Birdie! → jumped to #15 (safe again!)
- Holes 15-18: Needed four pars to stay in → couldn’t do it
The Costly Mistakes on the Back Nine
| Hole | What Happened | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Drive found water | Bogey |
| 16 | Chip rolled off green, missed 15-foot birdie putt | Par |
| 17 | Missed ~15-foot birdie putt | Par |
| 18 | Long birdie putt from 35 feet came up short | Par |
Spieth said: "I just didn’t execute enough shots and… a couple bounces could have gone one way or the other. I needed to be almost flawless today. I just feel like I’m kind of getting back to playing really good golf… and I’m not going to play a tournament for a long time."
The Guy Who Made It: Maverick McNealy
McNealy started the day exactly at #50—right on the bubble! He played bogey-free golf on the back nine with two birdies, shooting a 69 to finish tied for 19th.
McNealy said: "I think the top 50 number is probably the most important number on the PGA Tour right now. I’m excited to get to St. Louis and just take a Hail Mary swing to see if I can get into the Tour Championship, which is the goal every year."
Fun fact: McNealy thought he was OUT when he saw his tournament finish (tied for 63rd in the 69-man field). But because Mitchell and Spieth stumbled, he snuck in right on the number!
How the FedEx Cup Playoffs Work (Simple Version)
- Event 1: FedEx St. Jude Championship → Top 50 advance
- Event 2: BMW Championship (next week in St. Louis) → Top 30 advance
- Event 3: Tour Championship → Winner takes home the FedEx Cup!
Think of it like: Round of 70 → Round of 50 → Round of 30 → CHAMPION
Summary
- Scottie Scheffler won the tournament by 8 shots (dominant!)
- Keith Mitchell stood in water to try a heroic shot, but it backfired → 51st place (7.819 points short)
- Jordan Spieth led at one point but made costly mistakes on holes 15-18 → 52nd place
- Maverick McNealy played steady golf when it mattered most → 50th place (LAST qualifying spot)
- Brian Harman also missed out, finishing 65th
- The BMW Championship starts next week in St. Louis with only the top 50 players
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: What does "made bogey" mean?
A: In golf, each hole has a "par" (expected number of strokes). A bogey means you took one stroke more than par. So on a par-4 hole, a bogey = 5 strokes.
Q: Why is the top 50 so important?
A: Two huge reasons: (1) You get to keep playing in the playoffs for the big FedEx Cup prize, and (2) You’re guaranteed entry into all "Signature Events" next year—these are the biggest tournaments with $20 million prize money!
Q: What’s a "Hail Mary swing" in golf?
A: It’s a football term McNealy borrowed! In football, a "Hail Mary" is a desperate, long pass at the end of a game. He means he’s going to go for broke and play aggressively in St. Louis since he’s starting near the bottom of the 50.
Q: Why did Mitchell take his shoes off?
A: His ball was on the bank of a water hazard, and he had to stand in the water to hit it. Wet shoes and socks would be uncomfortable for the rest of the round, so he played barefoot in the water!
Q: When is the next playoff event?
A: The BMW Championship starts next week in St. Louis. Only the top 50 players (including McNealy, but NOT Mitchell or Spieth) will be there. The top 30 after that advance to the Tour Championship!
Article based on ESPN reporting from August 16, 2026. The Associated Press contributed.