After opening the St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis with strong performances, Collin Morikawa found himself slipping during Saturday’s third round. The 28-year-old, who graduated from California Golden Bears, started the day tied for third place but posted a 2-over 72, causing him to fall into a six-way tie for 10th place at seven under par.
Morikawa St. Jude Championship hopes remain intact as he heads into the final round of the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs. His current standing in the FedEx Cup, ranked 19th, already secures him a spot among the top 50 players advancing to next week’s BMW Championship.
Leaders Extend Their Advantage in the Third Round
Tommy Fleetwood, the 34-year-old Brit who leads the tournament after three rounds, shot a 69 to reach 14 under par. Close behind him in second place is fellow Englishman Justin Rose, who carded a 67. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the defending Tour Championship winner, is just two strokes back in third having posted a 65, five under par for the round, with six birdies and one bogey, putting him at 12 under overall.
While Fleetwood has built a strong career, he remains in search of his first PGA Tour victory. Scheffler and Morikawa, who finished runner-up to Scheffler at last year’s Tour Championship, continue to be key players in the FedEx Cup playoff race.
Morikawa’s Challenges and Other Notable Performances
Morikawa’s third round included two bogeys and a double bogey on the 12th hole, balanced by just two birdies. This contrasts with his first two rounds in which he recorded only a single bogey across 36 holes. Other contenders tied for fourth place at 11 under include J.J. Spaun and Andrew Novak, while a group tied for sixth features players such as Patrick Cantlay and Sepp Straka, along with Morikawa.
Meanwhile, Michael Kim, another California Golden Bears alum who needed a top-20 finish to keep playoff hopes alive, struggled to improve, finishing tied for 67th at six over after shooting 72 for the third consecutive round.
Implications for the FedEx Cup Playoffs and Upcoming Rounds
The final round on Sunday will determine the ultimate standings for this stage of the FedEx Cup playoffs, with players aiming to improve their positions for the BMW Championship next week. Despite dropping to a tie for 10th, Morikawa’s placement keeps him well within the qualifiers for the next event, maintaining his opportunity to pursue a FedEx Cup victory during this three-week playoff series.