McIlroy and Spieth finish far behind the FedEx winner; what’s next?
Matsuyama Triumphs While Spieth and McIlroy Struggle at the FedEx St. Jude Championship The first round of the FedExCup Playoffs concluded with Hideki Matsuyama displaying remarkable resilience. Despite losing a five-shot lead, he managed to regain his composure, ultimately securing his first career playoff victory. Matsuyama’s victory was a testament to his determination and skill,…
Matsuyama Triumphs While Spieth and McIlroy Struggle at the FedEx St. Jude Championship
The first round of the FedExCup Playoffs concluded with Hideki Matsuyama displaying remarkable resilience. Despite losing a five-shot lead, he managed to regain his composure, ultimately securing his first career playoff victory. Matsuyama’s victory was a testament to his determination and skill, especially considering the pressure of the playoffs.
However, what stood out earlier that day was the early departure of Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. Before Matsuyama even teed off, both Spieth and McIlroy had already boarded their private jets—Spieth heading back to Dallas and McIlroy likely en route to either Florida or Denver for the next Tour stop.
By the time the tournament ended, Spieth and McIlroy had both finished 9-over-par, a staggering 26 shots behind Matsuyama, the new FedEx St. Jude champion. For those who follow golf, it’s not uncommon to see top players have off days or even poor tournaments. Professional golf is as much about overcoming failure as it is about tasting success—a reality that both McIlroy and Spieth are all too familiar with.
McIlroy, in particular, has been vocal about his recent struggles. While he has shown flashes of brilliance, notably at the U.S. Open and the Olympics, he has not been able to close out tournaments as he did earlier in the year at Quail Hollow, where he claimed victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.
“I certainly don’t want to downplay my achievements this year, but I hold myself to a high standard,” McIlroy said before the Memphis event. “I’ve won a couple of times this year and had chances to win even more, but I couldn’t finish them off. I would have liked to add a few more wins to my record.”
McIlroy also reminded everyone that there are still three tournaments left on the schedule, and a strong finish could salvage his season. However, finishing 26 shots behind Matsuyama does little to support the notion that McIlroy will suddenly dominate at the upcoming BMW Championship at Castle Pines.
For Jordan Spieth, this season has been a tough one, marked by the absence of a single victory and the lingering issue of his left wrist, which likely needs surgery. The three-time major winner’s performance has raised questions: Does he get a pass because of his injury?
“I’m trying to act as if nothing’s wrong and fully trust that I can get it fixed,” Spieth said last week at the Wyndham Championship, where he missed the cut. “I know a lot of golfers have had similar injuries and come back stronger. I like to think I have 10 to 15 years of my prime left, so I’m optimistic. But I’m not sure exactly what I’ll do or where I’ll do it, but something needs to be done.”
Unfortunately, Spieth’s results over the last two weeks suggest that he never fully trusted his wrist, and his game suffered as a result.
While it might be hard to label 2024 as a disappointment for McIlroy—he did win twice and remains in the playoff hunt—the lack of a major victory, particularly after coming so close at Pinehurst, casts a shadow over his season. As for Spieth, it’s time to consider surgery. Another decade of subpar performance could drive him to frustration.
Finishing 26 shots behind Matsuyama is a bitter pill to swallow for both players, and neither should be content with their performance.