The FedEx St. Jude Championship is on borrowed time.
The tournament will lose its premier status in 2028 as the PGA Tour makes major changes to its structure. That means the future of the tournament as a whole could be in doubt, and at the very least it won't have nearly the importance it does now as the first leg of the FedExCup playoffs.
"I'll be sad to see it go," said Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 ranked player in the world.
The 2026 edition of the tournament begins on Aug. 13 and is still critical for the FedExCup race. Seventy players advanced to Memphis, and the top 50 in the standings after the weekend will go on to the next playoff event in St. Louis. That format will remain in 2027 before the new format kicks in starting in 2028.
"All I
can say is FedEx have obviously been an incredible partner of the PGA TOUR," two-time defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy said. "St. Jude have been an incredible charity partner, and I think anyone here is very proud of the fact that the Tour has been able to raise a lot of money for St. Jude Children's Hospital."
St. Jude's involvement with the tournament brings plenty of national and international attention to the hospital, and several players said they hope the spotlight stays on St. Jude even if the tournament leaves or remains at a lower level.
Justin Rose, who won the tournament in 2025, said Memphis' event feels "special" because of the St. Jude component.
"Obviously the hospital and the kids that you meet this week is so heartwarming, there is definitely something special," Rose said. "It has a special feel. That's one of the golf courses I truly love on Tour. It's one of those courses that the whole membership can play well on."
There's plenty of reason to believe that professional golf will continue in Memphis beyond the 2027 edition of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. But that involvement will come in a diminished tournament in terms of its stature, and that means the field could be weaker.
"If we do end up leaving this community, at least hopefully St. Jude can follow us wherever we go," said J.J Spaun, who enters the week at No. 21 in the FedExCup standings. "And I think that's the biggest cause for us being here."
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy reacted to Memphis losing playoff status in 2028
