Robert MacIntyre suffers shocking 82 in nightmare FedEx St Jude start

Robert MacIntyre suffered a nightmare start to the FedEx Cup Playoffs after carding a career-worst 12-over 82 in the opening round of the FedEx St Jude Championship at TPC Southwind.

The 30-year-old Scot made just one birdie as he endured a miserable day in Memphis, leaving him plum last in the 69-man field and a staggering 17 shots off the early lead.

There appeared to be no obvious injury concern for the World No.17, with MacIntyre simply enduring what looked to be a hugely disappointing day at the office.

His 82 is the worst score of his PGA Tour career, surpassing his previous low of 80, which came during the third round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

MacIntyre's problems began early as he bogeyed the 2nd and 3rd holes before a disastrous run from the 4th to 6th saw him go bogey-double-triple.

The Scot also found the water multiple times throughout his round.

He eventually appeared to settle himself with eight consecutive pars, but another late collapse ensured there would be no recovery.

MacIntyre double-bogeyed the 15th before making his only birdie of the day on the 16th. 

He then bogeyed the 17th before finishing with another double bogey on the 18th after finding the water off the tee.

In total, the Scot found the water four times during the first round. 

The two-time PGA Tour winner began the week 31st in the FedEx Cup standings and is currently projected to fall six places to 37th.

That would still leave MacIntyre safely inside the top 50 and therefore on course to advance to next week's BMW Championship at Bellerive Golf Course in Missouri.

However, the pressure will increase significantly there, with only the top 30 players after the BMW Championship advancing to the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake.

MacIntyre was not the only big name to struggle in Memphis.

Rory McIlroy also endured a difficult opening round, finishing with a 4-over 74 after dropping four shots across his final three holes. 

The World No.2 sits 68th, just one place ahead of MacIntyre, and nine shots off the lead.

Jake Knapp, Michael Kim, Jordan Spieth, Michael Thorbjornsen and Kurt Kitayama share the lead at 5-under, with reigning FedEx Cup champion Tommy Fleetwood one shot further back.

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler made a steady start with a 2-under 68.

For MacIntyre, the challenge now is simple: forget the worst round of his PGA Tour career and produce a response before his FedEx Cup campaign slips further away.