![\"Rory](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0_GettyImages-2289824840.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRory McIlroy endured a difficult start to the tournament<\/p>\n
Rory Mcllroy (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Shane Lowry finds himself four shots adrift of the leaders after carding an opening round of 69, leaving him at one-under par at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. However, Rory McIlroy<\/a> struggled on the opening day of the tournament.<\/p>\n Lowry<\/a> is striving to break into the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings to secure his progression beyond this week’s action. Currently sitting in 62nd position, he needs a strong showing with the BMW Championship scheduled for next week.<\/p>\n Lowry’s round featured four birdies alongside one bogey and a costly double bogey at the par-three 11th hole after finding water with his tee shot. He trails the leading group of five American players – Jordan Spieth, Michael Thorbjornsen, Kurt Kitayama, Jake Knapp and Michael Kim – by four strokes.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, McIlroy experienced a challenging opening day at the tournament, posting a four-over-par round hampered by costly late bogeys.<\/p>\n The Holywood<\/a> native was seeking to rediscover his form before the PGA Tour Play-offs, following a series of disappointing results since successfully defending his Masters title in April – which included a tied 40th place finish at The Open at Royal Birkdale, reports the Irish Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n McIlroy, currently positioned 12th in the FedExCup rankings, competed in an illustrious grouping at TPC Southwind alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler, marking his return to the tournament he missed last year.<\/p>\n An initial dropped shot at the par-five third was swiftly recovered with a birdie at the par-three fourth, although another bogey at the eighth left him one over par at the halfway stage. McIlroy sank a 15-footer for birdie at the 11th, but a wayward drive right from the 16th tee led to another dropped shot.<\/p>\n His second stroke at the 17th then bounced beyond the green into the spectator zone, requiring a drop before ultimately recording a five.<\/p>\n The 18th provided no relief as McIlroy found the water from the tee before falling short with his approach shot, resulting in a double bogey and a round of 74.<\/p>\n Scheffler, playing for the first time since his second-place finish at the 3M Open, carded two under par, with his only mistake coming at the 15th.<\/p>\n “I felt like I hit a lot of quality shots with my irons,” he said. “I did a good job of being patient and not trying to force it too much.<\/p>\n “I feel like I was right on the edge of having a good day, so I felt like patience-wise, I did a pretty good job.”<\/p>\n