Tommy Fleetwood delivered another electrifying performance on Friday at the FedEx Cup St. Jude Championship, carding a stunning 6-under 64 to seize the 36-hole lead. With four straight birdies to close his round, Tommy Fleetwood sits at 13-under 127, four shots clear of his closest challengers, and has his sights firmly set on an elusive PGA Tour title.
The Englishman’s blistering finish has positioned him in command at TPC Southwind, leaving fans and fellow players wondering if this could finally be the weekend that Tommy Fleetwood breaks through for his first PGA Tour victory. Already locked into the finale at the Tour Championship thanks to his FedEx Cup standing, his focus is singular — winning.
“It hasn’t happened for me yet out on the PGA Tour,” Tommy Fleetwood said. “But I would much rather be up there and not quite get it done than not there at all. And who knows? Maybe this weekend is the weekend — we’ll see and crack on from there.”
Four Birdies to Close the Round
Tommy Fleetwood’s round on Friday was a masterclass in composure and precision. Starting strong with three birdies in a row early in the round — including a 30-foot beauty from the fringe on the par-3 fourth — he displayed sharp iron play and an impeccable putting touch.
After a pair of crucial par saves around the turn, Tommy Fleetwood shifted into high gear. On the 13th and 14th, he drained two 15-foot putts for birdies, then followed up with a precise wedge to within five feet on the 15th. At the par-5 16th, he reached the green in two and calmly two-putted from 30 feet to complete his run of four consecutive birdies.
The only blemish came on his final hole, when a wayward bunker shot left him in thick rough. Playing it safe, he left himself a lengthy putt and settled for bogey. Even so, the 6-under round was enough to extend his lead over Collin Morikawa and Akshay Bhatia.
Eyeing a Long-Awaited PGA Tour Win
While Tommy Fleetwood has seven wins on the European Tour, his first PGA Tour title has proven elusive. In June at the Travelers Championship, he was within reach of victory before a costly three-putt on the final hole allowed Keegan Bradley to snatch the win.
Rather than dwell on the disappointment, Tommy Fleetwood took the setback in stride, focusing on the positives. His resilience has been evident in recent weeks, and his current form suggests he’s ready to turn close calls into triumphs.
“Of course, when you shoot two good scores, it’s easy to say everything has been going well,” Tommy Fleetwood reflected. “I’ve been very good off the tee, put myself in position to attack, my iron play has been solid, and I’ve rolled the ball well.”
The Chase Pack: Morikawa, Bhatia, and Rose
Collin Morikawa’s second-round 65 and Akshay Bhatia’s 69 have them tied in second at 9-under, four shots behind Tommy Fleetwood. Morikawa’s steady play keeps him in striking distance, while Bhatia, who carded four birdies in his round, will look to apply pressure over the weekend.
Justin Rose also sits at 9-under after making birdie on the par-5 16th before play was suspended due to storms in the area. With rain and delays impacting momentum, the third round will begin Saturday morning with threesomes going off both tees.
Other Movers on the Leaderboard
Kurt Kitayama produced the low round of the day, a sizzling 63, vaulting him into the top five. Just two weeks ago, Kitayama was outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings. A win at the 3M Open moved him to No. 52, and now he has a real shot at advancing to the BMW Championship.
“If you play well, it’s going to take care of itself,” Kitayama said. “But yeah, I’m peeking over quite a bit at the scoreboard.”
Scottie Scheffler, who has already secured his place at the top of the FedEx Cup rankings, experienced a mixed round with three bogeys on the back nine. Despite the struggles, his 66 leaves him six shots behind Tommy Fleetwood heading into the weekend.
FedEx Cup Stakes
This week’s spotlight isn’t solely on the trophy — the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings after the St. Jude Championship will advance to the BMW Championship and secure a spot in all eight of next season’s $20 million signature events.
For Tommy Fleetwood, the points battle is a non-issue; his position is already secure. But for players hovering near the cutoff, like Bud Cauley (No. 53) and Kitayama (No. 52), every shot counts. Cauley carded a 69 on Friday, leaving him tied for seventh when play was suspended.
The Road Ahead
As Tommy Fleetwood heads into the weekend, the big question is whether he can maintain his composure and fend off the chasing pack. His tee-to-green game has been exceptional, his putting sharp, and his mental resilience clear.
Historically, TPC Southwind rewards precision over power, a course setup that plays directly into Tommy Fleetwood’s strengths. If he can continue to find fairways and hole key putts, his long wait for a PGA Tour title could be over by Sunday evening.
But golf is unpredictable — as the Travelers Championship reminded him — and players like Morikawa, Bhatia, and Rose are proven closers. Even Scheffler, with his ability to go low, remains a looming threat.
Why This Could Be Fleetwood’s Week
Tommy Fleetwood’s game is peaking at the right time. His ball-striking has been consistent, his putting is confident, and his mindset is focused on embracing the opportunity rather than fearing the outcome. His Ryder Cup experience has shown he can thrive on big stages, and the FedEx Cup playoffs offer one of the biggest in golf.
With a four-shot cushion, Tommy Fleetwood holds the advantage, but the work is far from done. Over the next two rounds, he’ll need to keep applying pressure, avoid costly mistakes, and trust the form that has carried him to the top of the leaderboard.
If the putts keep dropping and the birdies keep coming, the elusive PGA Tour title that has narrowly escaped him may finally be his.
Tommy Fleetwood has been one of golf’s most consistent and respected players over the past decade. A win this week wouldn’t just add a PGA Tour title to his résumé — it would be a validation of his perseverance, skill, and ability to rise to the occasion.
As the weekend unfolds at the FedEx Cup St. Jude Championship, all eyes will be on Tommy Fleetwood. And if his current form is any indication, fans could be witnessing the moment when one of golf’s most admired talents finally gets his long-awaited breakthrough.