First-Round Notes – Thursday, August 7, 2025

Weather: Mostly sunny. High of 93. Wind ESE 3-10 mph.

Checking in after Round 1 @FedExChamp

1. Akshay Bhatia (-8)
2. Tommy Fleetwood (-7)
T3. Harry Hall (-6)
T3. Justin Rose
T3. Bud Cauley
6. Si Woo Kim (-5)
T7. Maverick McNealy (-4)
T7. Ben Griffin
T7. Russell Henley
T7. Rickie Fowler
T7. Collin Morikawa

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 7, 2025

 Akshay Bhatia (1^st/-8)

• 62 marks his career low 18-hole score in his 92nd start (previous: 63, six times, most recently at 2025 3M Open/R3)
• Ties the lowest opening round score at TPC Southwind since the FedEx St. Jude Championship moved in 2022 (J.J. Spaun and Si Woo Kim in 2022)
• Third career 18-hole lead/co-lead on TOUR and his first this season (1-for-2 in converting to victory)
• Previous 18-hole leads/co-leads: 2024 Valero Texas Open/Won, 2024 Rocket Classic/finished T2
• Played his final three holes at 4-under par, finishing eagle-birdie-birdie on Nos. 16-18
• Making second career start in the FedEx St. Jude Championship (T12/2024)
• Entered the week No. 45 in the FedExCup standings; projected to climb to No. 4 should he go on to win
• In 21 starts this season, owns three top-10 finishes (T9/Genesis Invitational, T3/PLAYERS Championship, 9^th/Mexico Open at VidantaWorld)
• Last season marked his first time qualifying for the FedExCup Playoffs, advancing to the 2024 TOUR Championship where he finished 26^th
• PGA TOUR wins (2): 2023 Barracuda Championship, 2024 Valero Texas Open

Bhatia spoke to the media after his round:

Q. Can you describe how your mindset has changed since — it’s sounded like at 3M you made a mindset change about this year, how you’re thinking now and looking at things versus a few weeks ago?

AKSHAY BHATIA: Yeah, I haven’t done a great job. I’ve been looking at a lot of numbers that I don’t need to look at, obviously FedExCup, world ranking, and I’m still doing it, and I still catch myself doing it.

But I’m just really trying to have a little more peace on the golf course. I think this game can consume your life, your happiness, and so I’m just trying to figure out ways to change that because I feel like I don’t really want to live my life based off of an unstable game. That’s going to drive me nuts. This whole year it has, so I’m just trying to be just a little more at ease with whatever I shoot.

Q. Are there things you have found that have worked the last few weeks?

AKSHAY BHATIA: Yeah. I think certain days are easier than others, but again, it’s still very hard. I felt like at 3M I did a nice job for three days and then Sunday was — I sat in my hotel room furious. It’s hard because I want to perform the way I know I can, and this year again hasn’t been the easiest. But I’m just trying to enjoy what I have and be grateful for what I get to do for a living.

Q. What tends to work if you do find some peace?

AKSHAY BHATIA: I mean, I just feel, like, calm. Essentially like today I felt pretty relaxed, and I’m not trying to — I’m just not trying to force anything. I’m not trying to — it’s okay to get mad at golf shots but not at yourself, not self-deprecate yourself, which I tend to do.

FedExCup Playoffs:

• Following the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings will qualify for next week’s BMW Championship (the second of three events in the FedExCup Playoffs)
• Following the first round, two players are projected to move inside the top 50:
  • Bud Cauley (T3), 53^rd → 24^th
  • Rickie Fowler (T7), 64^th → 48^th
• Following the first round, two players are projected to move outside the top 50:
  • Jake Knapp (T57), 47^th → 54^th
  • Min Woo Lee (69^th), 50^th → 56^th

Additional notes:

• Seven-time DP World Tour winner Tommy Fleetwood (2^nd/-7) opens with a 7-under 63, his lowest opening round on TOUR (previous: 65, 3 times; most recent: 2024 Genesis Scottish Open/finished T34); qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive year (seventh total)
• Harry Hall (T3/-6) cards a bogey-free 64 in his debut at the FedEx St. Jude Championship; No. 44 in the FedExCup standings, qualified for the playoffs for the first time in his third season on TOUR
• 11-time PGA TOUR winner Justin Rose (T3/-6) sits inside the top-10 after 18 holes for the sixth time this season and the second consecutive year at the FedEx St. Jude Championship (T5/finished T22); this season marks his 18^th time qualifying for the playoffs in his 19^th season on TOUR
• Entering the week ranked No. 53 in the FedExCup standings, Bud Cauley (T3/-6) makes first appearance in the FedExCup Playoffs since the 2019-20 season
• Making first start since earning 17th PGA TOUR victory at The Open Championship, World No. 1 and reigning FedExCup Champion Scottie Scheffler (T12/-3) has four occasions with wins in back-to-back starts (most recent: 2025 CJ CUP Byron Nelson, PGA Championship)
• Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama (T27/-1) opens with a 69 in his bid to become the first player to successfully defend at the FedEx St. Jude Championship since Ernie Els (1996-97)