Akshay Bhatia Leads St Jude Championship FedEx Playoffs

Akshay Bhatia leads the St. Jude Championship after an impressive opening round of eight-under 62, highlighted by an eagle and two birdies on the final holes, positioning him a stroke ahead of Tommy Fleetwood. Fleetwood finished with a strong seven-under 63, including four consecutive birdies to close, securing second place and improving his odds in the FedEx Cup playoffs. The tournament, part of the FedEx Cup playoffs, sees the top 50 players advancing to the BMW Championship, with Bhatia currently ranked 45th and aiming to secure his spot. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, despite a modest three-under 67, remains a favorite but trails the leaders by five shots. Other notable contenders include Harry Hall, Justin Rose, and Bud Cauley, all close behind Fleetwood, while Rory McIlroy is absent from this week's event. Bhatia attributes his strong performance to a calmer, more peaceful mindset on the course, a strategy echoing that of Scheffler's recent success.