MEMPHIS — Chris Kirk’s first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship couldn’t have gone a whole lot better.
Yes, he bogeyed the 18th, but he went to that hole with a two-stroke lead thanks to the top highlight anyone produced on Thursday — an ace on the par-3 14th. Kirk finished his round with a 6-under 64 to top the leaderboard at TPC Southwind.
There are plenty of familiar names right behind him: Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Justin Rose are among seven golfers tied for fifth at 4 under as the PGA Tour’s top 70 had to battle Memphis’ customary heat throughout the day.
Here is a look at the winners and losers from Thursday.
FedEx St. Jude: Photos | Friday tee times
Winner: Chris Kirk
The list has to start with Kirk, and not just because he ended the day in first. His tee shot at No. 14 was sublime, two-hopping before it rolled into the cup to give him what was at that point a three-shot lead.
Kirk came into the week No. 28 in the FedEx Cup standings, and he’ll have a good shot to move up if he keeps playing like he did Thursday.
Winner: No jet lag
The Olympic medalists took their momentum from Paris and kept it going in Memphis, with all three near the top of the leaderboard. Hideki Matsuyama, who won bronze, is tied for second after finishing 5 under. Scheffler, who won the gold medal, and Tommy Fleetwood (silver) both carded a 66.
All three had impressive showings during the Paris tournament, which ended Aug. 4. This was the first tournament those three have played in since then.
Winner: Justin Rose
Rose entered Thursday at No. 55 in the FedEx Cup standings, and only the top 50 will advance to the BMW Championship next week in Castle Rock, Colorado, the second tournament of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. But his first-round 66 is a good start.
It was also a complete turnaround from last year’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, when Rose shot a 76, dead last in the first round.
Loser: Sahith Theegala
Theegala came in at No. 7 in the FedEx Cup standings, but it was a struggle on Thursday. He finished at 1 over, rebounding from a double-bogey at No. 14 with back-to-back birdies down the stretch. Still, he has a ways to go if he wants to get back in contention.
Loser: Max Greyserman
It has been a rough few days of golf for Greyserman. He was in position to win last week’s Wyndham Championship before a disastrous quadruple-bogey cost him the title. Then he arrived in Memphis and finished last after the first day, shooting a 5-over 75.
Greyserman started the week at No. 47 in the Cup standings, and he’s projected to finish outside the top 50 after Thursday’s round.
Loser: Alex Noren
Unlike most PGA Tour tournaments, the bottom of the leaderboard still will be critical during this tournament. Even golfers out of contention for the lead will be battling to preserve their spot in the chase for the Cup.
Noren was at No. 42 before Thursday, but he shot 3 over and finished 68th. That left him just two spots above the projected cutline for next week’s event, and now he’s got work to do.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Winners and losers from Round 1 of the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship
