Jordan Spieth’s season came to a premature close at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, marking the second consecutive year he has stumbled at TPC Southwind, thereby squashing his hopes for a hefty prize on the PGA Tour.
Spieth has been on a quest to reclaim his form over the past two seasons, with last year’s performance falling short of expectations for the golf star. Notably, the 32-year-old underwent surgery in August 2024, hoping for a comeback this season, but managed only four top 10 finishes.
Nonetheless, he was at TPC Southwind to solidify his chances to compete for the $10 million FedEx Cup prize money after the Tour Championship in Atlanta. However, his dreams of becoming a champion again were dashed on Sunday, with his performance in Memphis serving as the final blow.
Despite finishing two under in the final round, he ended his day T38. Due to his lackluster performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Spieth finished outside the top 50, failing to qualify for the BMW Championship.
This marks the second year in a row that Spieth has faltered at TPC Southwind. For the 2015 FedEx Cup winner, it could also signal the end of his Ryder Cup aspirations, something he had been eagerly anticipating, even jokingly telling Keegan Bradley that he wanted his spot.
In a conversation with SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, the golf star revealed that his “loftiest goal to start the season” was to secure a spot on the team, should Bradley, the captain, decide to step down and open up a position in the 12-man squad.
“I was coming in with almost no carryover points from [2024], which hurts and is unusual for me for a Ryder Cup year, and then obviously skipping the first month of the season I thought, ‘Boy, this would be the end goal,'” he said during his appearance.
“And the idea that I have a chance for it is very cool. If you told me I have a chance for it in August, I’d be excited about it.”
However, Spieth acknowledged that he would need to battle for a place on the team, given his lackluster performance this season. “Having said that, I’m certainly on the outside looking in right now, and I recognize that,” he added.
“I keep trying to convince Keegan that it’d be a lot for him to have to play, too. So he probably should give up that pick, even if he’s a top 10 player and a top seven player in the world.
“Just seems like way too much to have to do. So, I’m trying to open up all the opportunities I can, but I can also go take care of business myself.”
The 32-year-old was eager to contend for the Ryder Cup, aware that a strong performance in Memphis could significantly boost his prospects. “But I know I’m on the outside looking in, the only way I can change that is just by focusing on setting a goal for [Memphis], stay on the first tee and hit my line,” he remarked.
“It’s a shot at a time, it’s a round at a time. I’m still relying on the captains and the assistants on thinking I’d be an additive addition to the team, so that’s my goal.”
