Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Indian-Origin Golfers Struggle at FedEx St. Jude Championship
Some golfers from India are playing in a big golf tournament called the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
This is the first of three special playoff events on the PGA Tour.
Four golfers with Indian roots are playing, but they all had a tough day.
Three of them, Aaron Rai, Akshay Bhatia, and Sahith Theegala, are still doing well enough to move on to the next event.
One golfer, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, is not in the top 50, so he might not get to keep playing.
Only the best 50 golfers get to go to the next tournament.
Meanwhile, a famous golfer named Scottie Scheffler is leading the whole tournament.
He is two shots ahead of two other golfers, Sam Burns and Im Sung-jae.
The winner of this tournament gets a big prize and a chance to play in even more important events next year.
Aaron Rai, Akshay Bhatia, and Sahith Theegala are positioned to advance to the next FedEx Cup playoff event.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju sits outside the top 50 cut-off and faces elimination from the playoffs.
Scottie Scheffler holds a two-shot lead over Sam Burns and Im Sung-jae heading into the final round.
The top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings qualify for all $20 million signature events next year.
None of the four Indian-origin golfers finished under par in the third round.
- Who
- Indian-origin golfers Aaron Rai, Akshay Bhatia, Sahith Theegala, and Sudarshan Yellamaraju, along with leader Scottie Scheffler and contenders Sam Burns and Im Sung-jae
- What
- The FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first PGA Tour playoff event, with Indian-origin golfers struggling to make the top 50 cut
- When
- During the 2026 PGA Tour playoff season, heading into the final round
- Where
- TPC Southwind, site of the FedEx St. Jude Championship
- Why
- Only the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings advance to the next playoff event and qualify for $20 million signature events next year
Optimistic View
Pessimistic View
Indian-Origin Players' Performance
Optimistic View
Three of the four Indian-origin golfers are still positioned to advance to the next playoff event, showing resilience despite a tough day.
Pessimistic View
None of the four Indian-origin golfers finished under par, and Sudarshan Yellamaraju is at risk of elimination, indicating a disappointing performance overall.
- Event
- FedEx St. Jude Championship (first PGA Tour playoff event)
- Leader
- Scottie Scheffler at 13-under 197
- Lead
- Two shots over Sam Burns and Im Sung-jae (both 11-under 199)
- Top 50 Cut
- Only top 50 in FedEx Cup standings advance to BMW Championship
- Signature Events
- Top 50 assured entry into all $20 million signature events next year
- Indian-Origin Players
- Aaron Rai (T38), Akshay Bhatia (67th), Sahith Theegala (68th), Sudarshan Yellamaraju (76)
- Sudarshan Yellamaraju
- 57th in standings, outside top 50 cut-off