McIlroy admits concerns as Scheffler regains winning feeling at St Jude

Rory McIlroy is already assured of making to the 30-man season-ending Tour Championship St Jude Championship - round four leaderboard -17 S Scheffler (US); -9 Kim (Kor); -8 A Noren (Swe), S Burns (US); -7 W Clark (US), Im (Kor) Selected others: -6 L Aberg (Swe), T Fleetwood (Eng); -5 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -4 V Hovland (Nor), J Spieth (US); -3 H Hall (Eng); E J Rose; +3 S Lowry; +8 R McIlroy (NI) Rory McIlroy says "he felt lost" as he toiled to a 66th-place finish - 25 strokes behind champion Scottie Scheffler - at the St Jude Championship. While world number one Scheffler was a cut above the rest at 17 under overall as he claimed his first victory since January, more concerning for McIlory was that his eight-over total left him ahead of just two players in the first of the three FedEx Cup play-off events. The Northern Irishman, who won his second Masters title earlier this season had not played competitively since the Open Championship in July. And it told at TPC Southwind, where he failed to record a single round under par across the four days and struggled to find the sort of rhythm that will be needed if he is to claim an unprecedented fourth FedEx Cup later this month. "I'm so far away from where I need to be to even feel like I have a chance. However, he would at least have been able to take some comfort from a seven-hole stretch on the back nine where he knocked in four birdies, albeit he finished with successive bogeys to bookend a round which began with a six on the par-four opening hole. There were no such issues for Scheffler, who led . The four-time major winner outscored his playing partner and close friend Sam Burns a four-under 66 to get back on the winning trail. Scheffler's last victory was at the American Express Open on 27 January. And despite an early bogey, when he splashed out of a bunker and his ball hit a sprinkler head and ended up in the water, the only player to score better than the American on Sunday was Justin Rose, who carded a six-under 64 to end the tournament at level par. "I've had some close calls this year. It is always challenging playing with one of my best friends but I wanted to do my best," said Scheffler. "I think I've been really consistent.