Read in Browser [[link removed]]
Morning Edition
August 17, 2026
POWERED BY
Scottie Scheffler won the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis Sunday in dominant fashion, taking home $3.6 million in the process. He’s now passed Rory McIlroy at No. 2 on the PGA Tour’s career earnings list, and can overtake Tiger Woods at No 1. at next week’s BMW Championship.
— Ryan Glasspiegel [[link removed]]
First Up Stephen A. Smith voiced his displeasure [[link removed]] with the National Association of Black Journalists after it gave him its “Thumbs Down Award” over the weekend. Caitlyn Jenner says there’s a “simple” way for the WNBA to solve its transgender eligibility issue [[link removed]] after two former NBA players said they’re declaring for the league’s draft. A judge dismissed Charles Oakley’s lawsuit [[link removed]] against Madison Square Garden over an alleged 2017 assault by security guards, but the former Knick is seeking a jury trial. Scottie Scheffler Nears Tiger Woods’s Career Earnings As He Laps FedEx Field [[link removed]]
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Scottie Scheffler’s dominant performance in winning the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis powered him past Rory McIlroy and brought him about $1 million away from catching Tiger Woods for the highest career PGA Tour earnings of all time.
With the win in Memphis, Scheffler takes home $3.6 million, bringing his total PGA Tour career earnings to $119.96 million. Woods stands just shy of $121 million [[link removed]], while McIlroy finished 66th in this weekend’s tournament to bring his total to $116.49 million.
Scheffler finished -17 on the week, eight strokes ahead of second-place Si Woo Kim. He had entered into Sunday at -13, in first place by two strokes. There was a brief scare when he had an unfortunate bounce off a sewer grate and into the water for a bogey on the par-5 third hole. However, after that, he birdied the fifth and sixth and was never seriously threatened, as he continued to compound his lead.
It has been a wonky year for Scheffler, where he’s the No. 1–ranked golfer but was still a disappointment by his lofty standards. His only previous win in 2026—including majors—was at The American Express in January. Nevertheless, including this week, he finished in the top five 12 times and as runner-up five times. He’s ultimately won more than $20 million on the PGA Tour this year.
Next week’s BMW Championship in St. Louis—the second of three playoff events that kicked off this week with St. Jude—similarly awards $3.6 million to the winner, while the FedEx Championship to end the season has a $40 million purse—including $10 million for the winner. Scheffler would need to finish ninth or better next week to pass Woods in career earnings.
Meanwhile, this was the final week to solidify position in the top 50 PGA Tour golfers. Those on the list are not only eligible for next week’s BMW, but also guaranteed entry into all of the Tour’s signature events next year. The last four in were Michael Brennan, Eric Cole, Maverick McNealy, and Matt McCarty, while the first four out were Keith Mitchell, Jordan Spieth, Max Homa, and Harris English.
SPONSORED BY ELEVATE
Netflix’s Elle Duncan to Join Tuned In
After nine years at ESPN, Elle Duncan is ushering in a new era as Netflix’s lead host for sports and live events while also serving as the studio host for USA Sports’s inaugural WNBA coverage. From anchoring SportsCenter to leading acclaimed coverage of women’s basketball’s biggest moments, Duncan has become one of the industry’s most influential and versatile broadcasters.
Now, you’ll have the chance to hear from her firsthand as she takes the Tuned In [[link removed]] stage this October.
Join the conversation as we unpack how the sports media landscape is evolving—and what it takes to thrive across streaming, broadcast, and the next generation of live sports.
If you care about where sports media is headed, this is where you need to be. Secure your ticket now [[link removed]] before prices increase.
ONE BIG FIG Retiring Rich
Reuters
$200 million
That’s how much Cristiano Ronaldo earned annually in salary and bonuses after transferring to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr in 2023, according to Bloomberg [[link removed]]. Ronaldo’s contract runs out at the end of the upcoming 2026–27 season, at which point he will likely retire. The 41-year-old superstar, who played in his sixth World Cup [[link removed]] for Portugal earlier this summer, told [[link removed]] Vogue Sunday that this upcoming season was “probably my last year.”
Ronaldo, who has scored 976 goals since 2001 in over 900 appearances for club and country, was named the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes in May for a fourth-straight year. He’s followed by Canelo Alvarez, Lionel Messi, LeBron James, and Shohei Ohtani.
DAILY SPORTS TRIVIA
Can you rank the top five college football teams by toughest places to play in “EA Sports College Football 27”?
[[link removed]] FOS NEWS Geno Auriemma: 40 Years of UConn Dynasty
FOS graphic
Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma [[link removed]] joined Front Office Sports to discuss the new Apple TV docuseries on UConn’s 40-year dynasty, managing stars like Sue Bird and Paige Bueckers, why he thinks NIL and the transfer portal are killing mid-majors, and more.
YOUR MORNING LISTEN
Bezos buys into Liverpool, Brady rules hit Aikman, NFL WAGs going viral, and more
Listen Now › [[link removed]] Editors’ Picks How a Little League Run Turned Into a Big Legal Battle [[link removed]]by Ava Hult [[link removed]]Two Tulsa teams were disqualified over eligibility issues this summer. The 3 Weeks That Brought Gianni Infantino and FIFA to the Brink [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The FIFA president has had a no good, very bad stretch. Jeff Bezos Remains on NFL Ownership Sidelines Even Amid Liverpool Deal [[link removed]]by Mark Maske [[link removed]]FSG announced the Liverpool deal Friday. Question of the Day
Do you think Scottie Scheffler will overtake Tiger Woods in career earnings this weekend?
YES [[link removed]] NO [[link removed]]
Friday’s result: 57% of respondents think brands should get tickets and road trips to away games funded by the schools they sponsor.
Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Games [[link removed]] Shop [[link removed]] Written by Ryan Glasspiegel [[link removed]] Edited by Jeff Benson [[link removed]]
If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].
Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]
Copyright © 2026 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.
460 Park Avenue South, 7th Floor, New York NY, 10016
