J.J. Spaun leads FedEx Cup Championship; Cameron Smith lurking 2 shots back

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — J.J. Spaun did just enough right at the end to fashion a 2-under 68 and keep his 1-shot lead Saturday in the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a familiar name lurking.

At stake for Cameron Smith is No. 1 in the world.

Already enjoying a banner year with his first major at the Open Championship, and under heavy scrutiny for reports that he is headed to Saudi-funded LIV Golf, Smith birdied his last hole for a 67. That left him 2 shots behind and fully aware a victory moves him to No. 1 in the world.

«That's been one of my goals probably since the start of the year is to try to get to that top spot,» Smith said. «Try and chase it down.»

The chase will start out in a traffic jam.

Spaun had a two-putt birdie on the par-5 16th and holed an 18-foot birdie putt on the next hole to claim the 54-hole lead at 13-under 197.

Sepp Straka was right there with him until he failed to save par from the bunker on the 18th for a 68 that left him a shot behind. Both are first-time winners on the PGA Tour this year, and a victory in a FedEx Cup playoffs carries even more weight — $2.7 million to the winner and a guaranteed spot at East Lake for the FedEx Cup finale.

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world and in the FedEx Cup since March, missed the cut. That paves the way for Smith, whose three wins this year include the Players Championship, to reach No. 1 if he were to win.

Will Zalatoris is just as hungry, for different reasons. Zalatoris has been a tough customer in the majors, losing in a playoff at the PGA Championship and finishing a shot back in the U.S. Open. He is No. 14 in the world. And he has yet to win on the PGA Tour.

Zalatoris opened with a 71 that put him in such a hole that even his