Rory McIlroy’s FedEx Cup play-off progress may have been essentially locked in before a ball was hit this week but closing woes over his Memphis opening round delivered some short-term concerns within big-picture goals.

With the leading 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings moving forward after Sunday’s St Jude Championship play-off opener finish on to St Louis then the top 30 towards the showpiece Atlanta showdown, a four-over-par start on Thursday flagged up present problems but with long-term work still very much the priority thanks to McIlroy’s 12th position pre-tournament.

Bogeys over 16 and 17 before a double bogey to wrap up the first round offered plenty for McIlroy to ponder on his first return since July’s The Open in a season which started with April’s second successive Masters title but frustration across the remaining majors.

"I think having four weeks off going into the last two events of the year was probably going to be a little too much for me in terms of wanting to be competitive...so this is a good week,” said McIlroy. “Obviously, I want to play well, but it's also a good week to just see where my game is, do a lot of practice.”

placeholder image — Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy at the FedEx St Jude Championship around TPC Southwind. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Scottie Scheffler entered the St Jude week leading the FedEx Cup field on 4,123 points off 17 events – compared to McIlroy’s return of 1,738 off 11 appearances. With 750 points to each winner across Memphis and St Louis before what essentially becomes a shoot-out from scratch at the Tour Championship finale given the 30-strong field starts on level terms, McIlroy could still extend his record-breaking position as the most successful player in FedEx Cup history off three wins, as well as lifting a winner’s cheque of $10m. But, with tournaments across his calendar including the Irish Open, play in England, India and Dubai, McIlroy will want to maximise his FedEx Cup play-off time towards long-term gains.

"You have got to pace yourself..it is three long weeks,” said McIlroy. “I have always tried to treat it like one big, long golf tournament and sort of get into the rhythm of it and go from there. I have been lucky enough to do pretty well on these things over the years, so I will try to add another one to the list.”

Friday’s second round finished on a level-par 70 leaving McIlroy tied for 62nd in the 69-strong field.

Across Saturday he posted a two-over 72.