Im Sung-jae stays within 2 shots of Scheffler despite scorching heat at FedEx St. Jude

Im Sung-jae held onto a share of second place through three rounds of the FedEx St. Jude Classic (purse: $20 million), the first event of the 2026 FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Playing in heat that felt like 40 degrees Celsius at TPC Southwind (par 70) in Memphis, Tennessee, Im carded a 3-under-par 67 on Saturday — five birdies against two bogeys — to reach 11-under 199 for the tournament. He shares second place with Sam Burns of the United States, who shot an 8-under 62 that day.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who set a course-record-tying 61 on Friday to seize the lead, added a 2-under 68 on Saturday to reach 13-under 197, maintaining a two-shot advantage at the top.

Im currently sits 53rd in the FedEx Cup standings. If he finishes the tournament at his current third-round position, his ranking would climb 18 spots to 35th. Should he crack the top 30 at the second playoff event, the BMW Championship, he would qualify for the Tour Championship for an eighth consecutive year.

On moving day, Im relied on precise iron play and steady putting to grind out strokes methodically. He went 2 under through the front nine with three birdies and a bogey, then recovered from a three-putt bogey on the par-3 11th with a 4.4-meter birdie on the par-4 12th before adding a 70-centimeter birdie on the par-5 16th.

Kim Si-woo, ranked seventh in the FedEx Cup standings, fired a 5-under 65 — seven birdies and two bogeys — to reach 7-under 203, joining Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, Brian Harman of the United States and Alexander Noren of Sweden in a tie for sixth. If Kim holds that position through the final round, his projected FedEx Cup ranking would rise to fifth.

Kim Joo-hyung also made a big move, shooting a 7-under 63 to reach 6-under 204 and climb into a tie for 10th. He was particularly sharp on the front nine, making six consecutive birdies from the second through seventh holes and finishing the day with nine birdies and two bogeys. If he ends the first playoff event at that position, his FedEx Cup ranking would improve three spots, from 26th to 23rd.