FEDEX ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP

➡️ Five golfers — Michael Thorbjornsen, Jordan Spieth, Kurt Kitayama, Jake Knapp and Michael Kim — share the first-round lead at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The five-way deadlock marks the most 18-hole co-leaders in FedEx Cup Playoff history, surpassing the previous record of four set at the 2020 edition of the same event. Thorbjornsen, Kitayama, Knapp and Kim are each seeking their second career PGA Tour victory.
➡️ Jordan Spieth posted the field’s only bogey-free scorecard in the opening round at TPC Southwind to earn a share of the lead. It marks Spieth's 14th time holding an 18-hole lead or co-lead on the PGA Tour and his first since 2023. Entering the week at No. 54 in the FedEx Cup standings, the 2015 FedEx Cup champion is seeking a move into the top 50 to qualify for the BMW Championship.
➡️ Adam Scott carded a 4-under 66 to join a group tied for sixth place that includes reigning FedEx Cup champion Tommy Fleetwood and 2024 tournament winner Hideki Matsuyama. Scott's round marked his 108th sub-70 score in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, extending his record for the most sub-70 postseason rounds of any player since the FedEx Cup format was introduced in 2007.
➡️ World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a 2-under 68 to tie for 17th, while several marquee names stumbled early at TPC Southwind. Reigning champion Justin Rose and last week's Wyndham Championship winner Michael Brennan posted 3-over 73s (T60), and Rory McIlroy shot a 4-over 74 (68th).

POLL OF THE WEEK

CAST YOUR BALLOT
Heading into the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs, who is your choice for Player of the Year?
>> Vote

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

PREDICTING THE FUTURE
How do you envision professional golf looking in five to 10 years?
>> Respond

Last week: If you have ever made a legitimate hole-in-one, share your story. Where did it happen, how did you feel and what was the celebration? If you have had more than one, share your favorite. | Read

RECENT DROPS

🎧 | ▶️ CONTENT CLUBHOUSE
Hally Leadbetter | Andrew Wantuck: (Un)Serious business
Guests: Hally Leadbetter and Andrew Wantuck, co-founders of Better Co. and consultants on Netflix's "The Hawk."
Listen | Watch | Archives

🎧 GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Jason Birnbaum: An instructor's POV on an emerging PGA Tour star
Guest: Jason Birnbaum, director of instruction, Manhattan Woods Golf Academy in West Nyack, New York.
Listen | Archives

ARCHIVES: 🎧 Podcasts | ▶️ Videos

RELATED: Industry press releases | Industry press release videos
RELATED: The First Call / PR Newswire feed

➡️ Is Merion the greatest course in the world? An architect makes the case
Josh Sens | Golf.com | Read

➡️ LIV fears Jon Rahm will quit
James Corrigan | The Telegraph | Read

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED LISTINGS

▪️Assistant Golf Professional
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Silver Lakes
Glencoe, Alabama | Info

▪️Manager, Rules and Competition
LPGA
Daytona, Florida (Remote) | Info

▪️Golf Instructor and Coach
Trump National Golf Course
Rancho Palos Verdes, California | Info

▪️ The First Call Job Board
▪️ Buffalo Groupe Job Openings

Buffalo Research's new Golf in Motion Monthly tracks year-over-year visitation trends across traditional golf facilities, off-course retail, golf entertainment venues and sporting goods retailers using anonymized movement data from approximately 30 million mobile devices.

Each monthly report is designed to provide the golf industry with a consistent, data-driven benchmark to help operators, brands, investors and industry leaders identify trends, and make more informed business decisions.

The report is free. Upon signing up, you will receive the updated monthly reports straight to your inbox.
>> Sign Up

SEPTEMBER
29 – October 1: Golf Inc. Strategies Summit, Hilton Head, South Carolina | Info

COMPLETE CALENDAR >

To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.