Rickie Fowler isn’t ready to leave the FedEx Cup Playoffs just yet, even though Elvis has left the building.

Fowler shot a bogey-free 4-under 66 in the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, which is where Elvis Presley grew up.

Fowler said, “I think going around this place whenever you can go around with no bogeys or very few, it’s surely a good sign.”

On the 18th hole, Akshay Bhatia shot 62 and is in first place, four strokes ahead of him.

“That’s the start you want.” Even though it’s not 8-under like Akshay’s, 4 under is a good start. As you said, it’s only Thursday, so we’ll try to build on this.

Fowler had to work hard this week to finish in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup points race for the whole season. For him, this week was the tournament within a tournament. He started the week ranked No. 64 and needs to finish at least T-17. Is that sweat on his face? This is because it was 90 degrees and humid outside. Fowler is trying to stay as cool as a cucumber otherwise.

I know I need to finish well.” That’s somewhere I don’t know. Of course, the higher the place, the better my chances are. A win would make a lot of things better,” he said. “I mean, I figure it out pretty quickly, but I just need to play some good golf and put myself in a position to win on Sunday.”

Bud Cauley and Fowler are both expected to move into the top 50. Cauley made eight birdies to shoot a 6-under 64 and tie for second after the first round. Fowler is expected to move up to No. 48.

Cauley said, “I hit it in the fairway, which is nice.” “You need to be on the fairway.” The rough can’t happen.

Cauley has come back strong this season, with four top 10s and eight top 25s. Before the week, he was 53rd in the points race. Now, he’s expected to jump to 22nd. He will be able to go to all eight major events next season if he wins the BMW. How much has that been on his mind?

He said, “I’d love to be there and play, but I have to take care of this week first.”

Of course, when two players move in, two players have to move out. Jake Knapp, who was ranked No. 47 at the start of the week, had a crazy day. There were five bogeys to go along with his five birdies. He also had a double bogey, which put him at 2 over par. He’s likely to fall to No. 55.

On Thursday, Australian Min Woo Lee wasn’t cooking. He had a score of 6 over 76, which put him at the very bottom of the group of 69 golfers. He was the “Bubble Boy” at No. 50 at the start of the week. The most damage was done by a triple at 13.

The new Bubble Boy? It’s likely to be Jordan Spieth.

FedEx Cup Playoffs predicted rankings from 46th to 55th place

This story was first published on Golfweek: After the first round of the 2025 St. Jude Championship, who is up and who is down in the FedEx Cup?