Scheffler equals course record to lead first play-off event

Scheffler equals course record to lead first play-off event St Jude Championship - circular 2 leaderboard -11 S Scheffler (US); -8 Im (Kor), V Hovland (Nor); -7 L Aberg (Swe); -6 Nico Echavarria (Col), T Fleetwood (Eng), J Spieth (US), B Harman (US) Selected others: -3 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), J Thomas (US); -2 A Rai (Eng); E H Hall (Eng); +1 S Lowry (Ire); +3 J Rose (Eng); +4 R McIlroy (NI), J Smith (Eng); +5 A Fitzpatrick (Eng) Full leaderboard: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/leaderboard Scottie Scheffler matched the course record with a nine‑under‑par 61, opening a three‑stroke advantage after the second round of the St Jude Championship in Memphis. The world number one, who entered the week leading the FedEx Cup standings ahead of the first of three playoff events, birdied the opening five holes at TPC Southwind. He added six more birdies, with his only mistakes coming as bogeys on the eighth and twelfth holes, marking his fourth career round of 61 or better on the PGA Tour. "Really conscionable a imagination start. Probably 1 of the champion starts I've had connected tour, to beryllium honorable with you. I couldn't archer you a clip wherever I've been little aboriginal successful the round," said Scheffler. "My plaything has felt truly bully successful the past mates weeks, particularly playing astatine home. It was bully to get retired determination and get things rolling aboriginal successful the circular and was capable to support the momentum going and sprout myself a bully round." South Korea's Im Sung‑jae shares second place at eight‑under with Norway's Viktor Hovland, while Sweden's Ludvig Aberg sits at seven‑under. Tommy Fleetwood, the reigning FedEx Cup champion, is the highest‑placed British player at six‑under, joining Jordan Spieth in that group. Matt Fitzpatrick is at three‑under and fellow Englishman Aaron Rai, who earned his first major at the US PGA Championship in May, is at two‑under; Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy is at four‑over. Because no 36‑hole cut applies to any FedEx playoff event, six‑time major winner McIlroy will look to improve his standing over the weekend. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre withdrew before play began on Friday due to a knee injury. MacIntyre, who carded a 12‑over 82 in the opening round on Thursday, currently ranks 31st on the FedEx Cup points list. The top 50 players will advance to next week's BMW Championship.