Tommy Fleetwood’s Strong Showing
Tommy Fleetwood has been widely recognized as the top player without a win on the PGA Tour, and the English golfer is once again in contention for his first victory after completing two rounds at the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship. Following an impressive opening round of 63, Fleetwood delivered another stellar performance with a 64, reaching a total of 13 under par and giving him a four-shot lead over competitors Collin Morikawa, Akshay Bhatia, and Justin Rose.
Second Round Play Suspended
Rose still has two holes remaining in his second round, which was suspended due to inclement weather on Friday. He is set to resume play at 8:30 a.m. ET, joined by other players who have yet to finish their rounds, all hoping to close the gap on the leaderboard. Regardless of how the remaining holes play out, Fleetwood will head into the third round in Memphis as the leader after 36 holes.
Fleetwood’s Reflection
After his successful round, Fleetwood was asked if this could be the moment he finally secures a win, especially following Cameron Young’s victory the previous week. He expressed satisfaction at being in contention, but he emphasized that there’s still plenty of golf to be played. “I’m happy to give myself a chance for the weekend,” Fleetwood remarked. “It’s a great position to be in, but I know there’s more to come.”
Outstanding Performance
Fleetwood’s lead can be attributed to his exceptional ball-striking — he tops the field in driving accuracy, hitting 24 of 28 fairways, and greens in regulation, making 29 of 36. He also ranks 10th in strokes gained putting, an area previously questioned in his game. This weekend’s challenge will be to maintain confidence with both his irons and his putter under pressure.
The Competitive Landscape
In his last appearance leading a tournament, Fleetwood fell short at the Travelers Championship, losing to Keegan Bradley. This time around, he faces formidable opponents, including a resurgent Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler, who sits at 7 under, six strokes behind Fleetwood. On Friday, Scheffler shot a 66, despite some frustration over difficult lies in the Bermuda grass at TPC Southwind, keeping himself within striking range of the lead.
The Current Standings
1. Tommy Fleetwood (-13): The upcoming weekend promises to be tense for Fleetwood’s supporters, who are acutely aware of the precariousness of his lead. Nonetheless, he has showcased commendable form this week, particularly with his putting, which bodes well for his prospects. A solid round in the mid-60s on Saturday could extend his lead and provide him a buffer against nerves come Sunday.
Contenders and FedEx Cup Prospects
T2. Collin Morikawa, Akshay Bhatia, Justin Rose (-9)
T5. Kurt Kitayama, Andrew Novak (-8)
T7. Scottie Scheffler, Bud Cauley, Jacob Bridgeman, Maverick McNealy (-7)
T11. Ludvig Åberg, Si Woo Kim, J.J. Spaun (-6)
If Fleetwood maintains his momentum, it will be challenging for players outside the current top contenders to mount a significant charge. Bhatia, despite having a slower second round, has been known to position himself well early in tournaments. Meanwhile, players like Kitayama and Cauley are looking to improve their FedEx Cup rankings with potential climbs into the top 50 as the weekend unfolds.
