Rory McIlroy makes FedEx Cup Playoffs decision after Memphis uncertainty

Rory McIlroy will tee it up at next week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, with the six-time major champion and record three-time FedEx Cup winner confirmed for the opening event of the Playoffs.

The PGA Tour confirmed on Friday that McIlroy is part of the 70-man field at TPC Southwind in Memphis from 13-16 August, ending weeks of speculation over whether he would again sit out the playoff opener after skipping the event last season.

McIlroy's decision comes at a pivotal stage of his season. The World No. 2 has played only 11 PGA Tour events in 2026 and currently sits 12th in the FedEx Cup standings, although his campaign already includes another Masters triumph.

His appearance in Memphis will also give McIlroy the opportunity to begin another FedEx Cup campaign in pursuit of a record fourth title.

There had been some uncertainty over whether McIlroy would return to TPC Southwind this month after his decision to skip the FedEx St. Jude Championship in 2025.

At the time, McIlroy knew he had already secured his place in the top 30 and therefore a spot in the season-ending Tour Championship, and he ultimately chose to conserve his energy rather than play the opening playoff event.

The decision did not lead to a deep playoff run, with McIlroy finishing tied for 12th at the BMW Championship before ending the Tour Championship tied for 23rd.

This time, however, the six-time major winner has chosen a different approach.

His return to competition in Memphis will be his first tournament since The Open, where he finished tied for 40th in a disappointing defence at Royal Portrush.

That followed a more encouraging week at the Genesis Scottish Open, where he tied for seventh.

McIlroy's position in the FedEx Cup standings is particularly notable given how little golf he has played on the PGA Tour this season.

He has appeared in just 11 events, compared with 17 for leader and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, yet McIlroy remains 12th heading into the playoffs.

The PGA Tour normally requires its members to play a minimum of 15 events, but McIlroy was granted an exemption under the PGA Tour's extenuating-circumstances provision.

His schedule has included several high-profile absences, with McIlroy skipping the RBC Heritage, Cadillac Championship and Travelers Championship.

Despite the lighter schedule in 2026, he has still produced one of the year's biggest moments by winning the Masters for a second time in a row, becoming only the fourth player in history to achieve such a feat. 

The Masters win is McIlroy's only triumph this season that counts towards both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. 

He also finished runner-up at the Genesis Invitational and has three other PGA Tour top-10 finishes.

Few players have a stronger record in the FedEx Cup than McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman has won the season-long competition three times — in 2016, 2019 and 2022 — making him the record holder for FedEx Cup victories.

Now, he will attempt to add a fourth title to that record, beginning with the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis.

The playoff opener will be followed by the 50-man BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, with the season concluding at the 30-man Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.

McIlroy also has another season-long title to consider. He is currently second in the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai standings behind Patrick Reed, although Reed has played five more official European Tour events.

The Ulsterman is attempting to match Colin Montgomerie's record haul of eight Order of Merits on the European circuit this November.