Scheffler Takes 2-Stroke St Jude Lead as Burns Fires 62 to Reach Final Pairing

Q: Will Sam Burns' past playoff triumph over close friend Scottie Scheffler fuel a dramatic Sunday upset at the FedEx St. Jude Championship?

Yes, Burns has a realistic chance to turn that history into a Sunday upset, but Scheffler remains the man to beat. Burns arrives with the strongest immediate momentum after a bogey-free 62, the best round among the leaders, and his profile fits TPC Southwind well. He said the course suits his eye, especially on Bermuda surfaces, and his third round backed that up with 15 greens hit in regulation. His putting is the clearest weapon if he is to chase down Scheffler quickly, and that is the same kind of strength that helped him beat Scheffler in a playoff at Colonial in 2022. That said, the Colonial result should be treated more as psychological proof than as a predictive edge. Burns did beat Scheffler there, but they were not paired together on that Sunday. This is only the second time they have been grouped together in a final round on the PGA Tour, and Scheffler’s current form as world No. 1 is a bigger factor than old head-to-head memories. Scheffler still holds the advantage because he leads by two, has already posted a course-record-tying 61 this week, and recovered impressively from a shaky front nine on Saturday. His history converting 36-hole and 54-hole control into top finishes also matters. He has been clear that his plan will not change: execute and stay committed. So Burns’ past triumph may fuel belief and sharpen the drama, but for it to become an upset he will likely need another elite round — and probably a colder-than-usual day from Scheffler.

Q: With millions on the line, will Scottie Scheffler's friendship with Sam Burns become his ultimate undoing in Memphis?

Probably not. Scheffler’s biggest threat in Memphis is Burns’ form, not their friendship. The facts favor Scheffler. He leads by two shots at 13 under, has already shown the best golf in the field this week with a course-record-tying 61, and has a strong history of converting when he holds the 54-hole lead. Reporting around this event notes that front-running has typically been one of his greatest strengths. His own message before Sunday was also notably calm: keep the same strategy and execute. Burns does add real pressure. His bogey-free 62 was the best move of the day, and he has beaten Scheffler before, most notably in a 2022 playoff at Colonial. He and Scheffler have also been paired in contention before, including the 2021 Tour Championship. So the pairing is not new territory, and Burns’ presence is dangerous because he is playing well enough to win, not because he is a friend. If Scheffler loses, it is more likely to be because Burns keeps making birdies, or because others such as Sungjae Im, Tommy Fleetwood or even Viktor Hovland post a low number, rather than because Scheffler becomes emotionally compromised. There is no evidence this friendship has affected his competitive edge in similar moments. The more credible reading is that the friendship may strip away some awkwardness, but once the round starts, it becomes a standard high-stakes final group. In a $20 million playoff event, comfort does not remove pressure; execution does.

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 15

Scottie Scheffler enters Sunday's final round at 13 under after a two-under 68, giving the world number one a two-shot edge as he seeks his first win since January.
Sam Burns surged into second at 11 under with a bogey-free 62, tying Im Sung-jae and setting up a final pairing between close friends Burns and Scheffler.
Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp sit five shots back at eight under, with Brian Harman at seven under and Viktor Hovland at six under still within range.
Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose fell out of contention at six over after late collapses on 18 — McIlroy made double bogey and Rose triple bogey after finding water.
The St Jude Championship opens the FedEx Cup playoffs, with only the top 50 in the standings advancing to next week's BMW Championship and the top 30 then reaching the Tour Championship.