Rory McIlroy makes outrageous birdie from right next to tree at ...

Rory McIlroy made one of the birdies of the PGA Tour season from next to a tree stump in the first round of the FedEx St Jude Championship at TPC Southwind.

McIlroy looked to be in big danger of closing his round with a bogey when his ball bounded next to a tree stump down the par-4 18th.

But he turned it all around with a miraculous approach shot from 140 yards. 

The World No.3 was thankfully able to get a full swing on the ball and he hit a stunning draw into a back right pin position. 

McIlroy's ball landed with sore feet and spun in behind the flag for a simple birdie. 

Scroll below to see some McIlroy magic...

McIlroy started his round with a brilliant eagle on the par-5 3rd but he then gave it all away with bogeys on 10 and 12.

The Northern Irishman then rebounded with a birdie from two feet at the par-5 16th before ending his round in style with a closing birdie at 18.

It all added up to a 2-under 68 that leaves McIlroy inside the top 20 after the first round and four shots off the pace. 

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The record three-time FedEx Cup champion was ranked third in the FedEx Cup Playoffs heading into this week's tournament. 

McIlroy admitted on the eve of the first Playoffs event that the FedEx Cup format is not the fairest to determine the season-long champion.

It's looking all the more likely that runaway World No.1 Scottie Scheffler will be leading heading into the Tour Championship, which will determine the FedEx Cup at East Lake in two weeks' time. 

Scheffler, should he remain out in front by then, will start the tournament with a two-shot lead. 

That's despite him having won six official titles on the PGA Tour this season, and seven if you count his gold medal at the Olympics. 

"I love this format because if it wasn't this format, then none of us would have a chance against Scottie because he's so far ahead," McIlroy told reporters on Wednesday.

"He's so far ahead, and you don't expect Scottie to finish outside the top five, either.

"But the way -- I think it makes the Tour Championship more exciting from a consumer standpoint.

"Is it the fairest reflection of who's been the best player of the year? Probably not.

"But I think at this point we're not in for totally fair, we're in for entertainment and for trying to put on the best product we possibly can."

McIlroy added: "The first year that it was the starting strokes at Tour Championship in 2019, I was able to win that one, and then in '22 again.

"I like this format. It sort of feels like it's a bit of a reset after the regular season.

"Everyone is not quite on a level playing field, but it feels a little more like that."

Even Scheffler himself isn't that convinced by the FedEx Cup format. 

"It's silly," admitted Scheffler earlier this week.