2023 St. Jude Championship leaderboard: Jordan Spieth goes bogey free to sit ahead of Tom Kim after Round 1

Spieth did exactly what he needed to get out in front

After a bizarre regular season on the PGA Tour, it only makes sense that Jordan Spieth would lead following the first round of the opening FedEx Cup Playoffs event, the 2023 St. Jude Championship. Teeing it up for the first time since The Open, the 2015 FedEx Cup champion showed zero signs of rust en route to a bogey free 7-under 63 at TPC Southwind.

Entering the postseason outside the top 30 that qualifies for the season-ending Tour Championship, Spieth immediately went to work. Three birdies across his first four holes catapulted his name near the top of the leaderboard before a stretch of pars to set the scene for vintage Spieth heroics coming in.

A pair of early birdies in his back nine saw the Texan reach 5 under with a reachable par 5 on deck. Hitting his second below the surface right of the green, he short-sided himself and did well just to get up-and-down. He did more than get up-and-down as an eagle-3 followed and Spieth put his name alone atop the leaderboard, one ahead of fellow Dallas resident Tom Kim.

Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa lurks two back after a stellar 65 as he searches for his first win on the PGA Tour in over two years. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler battled back from an early double bogey to post a 3-under 67 matching that of his playing competitor Rory McIlroy as they jostle for positioning ahead of the Tour Championship.

The leader

1. Jordan Spieth (-7): Despite Spieth referencing a heavy dose of short game following his round, his day was well rounded. Ranking inside the top 10 in strokes gained approach, around the green and putting, the Texan looked much like the player that nearly won early this spring. He has endured an inconsistent summer ever since tweaking his back and jamming his wrist, but Spieth is striking it well, putting it well and pulling off miraculous shots which spells trouble for the rest of the field.

"I didn't feel like I was stepping into any putt thinking like par or birdie and thinking it was different from the other, which is really a good sign," said Spieth. "I don't want to feel like I have to make the par putts and then you don't on the birdie. I want them to all feel the same. They all felt like, I'm going to do what I can; I'm going to pick my line and speed and put the stroke, and I'm going to do everything in my power, and if it goes in, great. If it doesn't, so be it. My stroke is in a good spot, it's just a matter of doing enough work on the practice green there of performance putting where you start to see them drop in matching the right line and speed."

Other contenders

2. Tom Kim (-6)
T3. Emiliano Grillo, Collin Morikawa (-5)
T5. Lucas Glover, Eric Cole, Adam Svensson, Tommy Fleetwood, J.T. Poston, Kurt Kitayama, Taylor Moore, Xander Schauffele, Aaron Rai, Cam Davis (-4)

Morikawa is in solid standing in the FedEx Cup as he began the week 22nd and is projected to move to 11th based on his current position, but he is playing for much more this week. Donating $1,000 for every birdie made during the FedEx Cup Playoffs to recovery efforts towards the Maui wildfires, Morikawa put his best foot forward Thursday with six birdies and $6,000 donated.

"I want to make a lot of birdies for them. One of our friends texted me, and they're like, OK, $100,000. I'm like, shoot, 100 birdies in three tournaments? I don't know if that's ever been done. But it would be a great feat to say the least."

Rust for Rahm

The FedEx Cup points leader shot out the gates in his opening round with a pair of birdies to place his name on the first page of the leaderboard. A lost ball off the tee on the par-5 16th led to his first bogey before another wayward drive on the par-4 18th saw the world No. 3 turn in 1 over. His troubles with the driver persisted into his second nine as the four-time winner this season lost a total of 3.16 strokes off the tee -- the worst single-round performance of his career.

Rick Gehman and Mark Immelman break down Round 1 of the St. Jude Championship. Jordan Spieth goes bogey free with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy just a couple shots back. Follow & listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Bubble boys

The top 50 means more than ever as those who qualify for next week's BMW Championship will also qualify for next year's signature events. There are plenty of players who made their moves Thursday, but they will need to keep charging as 54 holes remain at TPC Southwind.

Name	Projected	Official
Mackenzie Hughes	45	47
Cameron Young	46	48
Nick Hardy	47	50
Cam Davis	48	62
Andrew Putnam	49	41
Aaron Rai	50	65
Harris English	51	42
Patrick Rodgers	52	43
Hayden Buckley	53	56
Alex Smalley	54	51
Hideki Matusyama	55	57

2023 St. Jude Championship updated odds, picks

• Jordan Spieth: 11/2
• Scottie Scheffer: 7-1
• Collin Morikawa: 8-1
• Rory McIlroy: 9-1
• Tom Kim: 9-1
• Xander Schauffele: 12-1
• Tommy Fleetwood: 18-1

Will Zalatoris came from eight strokes back after last year's first round to win, so it is possible to mount a charge around this golf course. Tony Finau played very solid Thursday and led the field in terms of ball striking ranking fifth in strokes gained off the tee and second in strokes gained approach. He is only four back after an opening 67 and is still listed at his pre-tournament price of 35-1.

[Aug 10, 2023 at 4:40 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Spieth signs for 63

Highlighted by a chip-in eagle, Jordan Spieth opens up his playoffs with a 7-under 63. It was a bogey-free affair for the three-time major champion as he squeezed plenty out of his short game and putter. Fear not, there were some Spiethian moments intertwined.

[Aug 10, 2023 at 4:21 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Scheffler showing form on the greens

After a slow start to his day that saw him drop to 2 over, Scottie Scheffler has rattled off four birdies to get to 2 under and five off the pace. The new TaylorMade Spider putt looks very comfortable on his hands and is proving to be an ally during the middle portion of this round.

[Aug 10, 2023 at 3:55 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Spieth shares the lead

The three-time major champion cards his fifth birdie of the day on his 15th hole and is now in a share of the lead after Emiliano Grillo dropped a shot. Nick Hardy and Tom Kim are the other two players at 5 under with Collin Morikawa one off the pace at 4 under. As an aside, Jon Rahm continues to lose golf balls off the tee and is in jeopardy of dropping to 3 over on the day.

[Aug 10, 2023 at 3:27 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Kim joins Grillo at the top

The young South Korean came into this week flying under the radar due to an ankle injury. He looks fine early on as he has reached 5 under and joined Emiliano Grillo atop the leaderboard. Kim is in good standing having already won this season, but he looks to make his imprint on this postseason early.

[Aug 10, 2023 at 2:57 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Open champion struggles in first start since

Brian Harman admitted there may be some rust in his game, and through the first seven holes he has proven to be correct. Harman just made a triple-bogey 7 and finds himself 4 over for the tournament and eight strokes off a cluster of leaders. The good news is there is no cut this week so he has plenty of time to make his way through the peloton.

[Aug 10, 2023 at 2:27 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Spieth turns in 3 under

After an odd regular season that saw him nearly win a few times and miss plenty of cuts, Jordan Spieth finds himself 3 under after his opening nine. It looked pretty easy for the former FedEx Cup champion, and it is needed as he began the postseason just outside the top 30 to qualify for the Tour Championship.

[Aug 10, 2023 at 1:50 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Ben Griffin begins

The man who was the last man into the field is the last player to tee off Thursday. Ben Griffin reside in the 70th spot after clipping Justin Thomas at the Wyndham Championship. The UNC alum has enjoyed a solid season, but he will need a big showing in Memphis if his year is to continue.