For Friday’s Round 2 of the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship, the simplest plan is ESPN from 9 to 11 a.m. ET, Golf Channel from 2 to 6 p.m. ET, or the ESPN App for a longer video window from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. The main trade-off is access: television viewers face a three-hour gap between network windows, while app viewers may need an eligible account or subscription that the supplied Round 2 schedule does not explain.
Choose television for simplicity, not continuous coverage
The PGA Tour’s official viewing schedule lists two Friday television blocks: ESPN from 9 to 11 a.m. ET and Golf Channel from 2 to 6 p.m. ET. That arrangement works for viewers who already receive both channels and only want the primary broadcast.
It is less convenient for anyone hoping to follow Round 2 without interruption. The listed TV schedule leaves the middle of the day uncovered on those channels, so viewers must move to the ESPN App, switch to audio or accept missing part of the round.
This split is not unique to Friday. Golf.com’s Thursday coverage guide also described an early ESPN telecast followed by an afternoon Golf Channel window, with separate streaming coverage carrying more of the action. In practical terms, the event is designed around several access points rather than one all-day television feed.
The ESPN App offers more golf, but access terms matter
PGA Tour Live is scheduled to run through the ESPN App from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET on Friday. The official guide describes four feeds: a main feed covering action around the course, a marquee-group stream, a featured-groups stream and a featured-hole Betcast with live betting information.
That makes the app the stronger option for viewers who want to follow specific golfers or watch outside the two TV windows. It also creates a choice between breadth and ease. A main broadcast makes editorial decisions for the audience; group and hole feeds provide more control but may require viewers to switch streams as the round develops.
Cost is the unresolved part of the Friday plan. Golf.com listed ESPN+ at $11.99 per month in its Thursday guide, but the official Round 2 page refers to the ESPN App and does not state Friday’s subscription or authentication requirements. Readers should verify access in their own ESPN account before play begins rather than assuming that downloading the app alone unlocks every feed.
Free radio is the clearest no-video alternative
For listeners who do not need pictures, PGA Tour Radio is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. ET on Friday. The official guide says it is available through SiriusXM and free at PGATour.com/liveaudio.
The free web audio option avoids the channel and app questions surrounding video. It may suit people following from work, traveling or using a limited data plan. The obvious compromise is that radio cannot show ball flight, lies or putting lines, so it is better for keeping up with the leaderboard than evaluating individual shots first-hand.
Featured groups provide a reason to plan ahead
The official schedule lists Friday marquee-group starting times beginning at 9:10 a.m. ET with Chris Gotterup and Min Woo Lee, followed by Michael Brennan and Justin Rose at 9:20 a.m. ET, then Wyndham Clark and Matt Fitzpatrick at 9:30 a.m. ET. Viewers focused on those players will need app access around the start of ESPN’s television window.
The tournament is being played at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. After the opening round, Jordan Spieth was part of a five-way tie at 5 under, according to the PGA Tour. That gives Round 2 competitive significance beyond simple cut-position tracking, but the viewing decision still comes down to how much of the day a reader wants and which services are already available at home.
Weekend viewing shifts to Golf Channel and CBS
Anyone unable to watch Friday can plan around broader weekend network coverage. Saturday’s television schedule runs from 1 to 3 p.m. ET on Golf Channel and from 3 to 6 p.m. ET on CBS. Sunday begins on Golf Channel from noon to 2 p.m. ET before CBS carries the final-round window from 2 to 6 p.m. ET.
For Round 2, television is the low-effort choice, the ESPN App supplies the longest video window, and free PGA Tour Radio is the most accessible fallback. Checking app eligibility before Friday morning is the one preparation step that can prevent an unexpected access problem.
Watching the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship is less a question of finding one channel than deciding how much access is worth managing. Traditional television provides straightforward coverage but not an uninterrupted day. The ESPN App promises a longer window and more control through player- and hole-focused feeds, although the supplied Round 2 information leaves its account requirements unclear. Free online radio removes the cost and authentication concern but sacrifices the visual information that matters in golf. For most viewers, the practical move is to check ESPN access early, then use the TV windows or free audio as fallbacks.
Sources and methodology
- How to watch the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship: Streaming options for Round 2 - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7510018/2026/08/12/how-to-watch-the-2026-fedex-st-jude-championship-streaming-options-for-round-1
- 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship Thursday TV coverage - https://golf.com/news/2026-fedex-st-jude-championship-thursday-tv-coverage-watch
- FedEx St. Jude Championship: How to watch, live scores ... - https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2026/08/11/how-to-watch-round-1-2-coverage-details-live-scores-tee-time-featured-groups-times-fedex-st-jude-championship-golf-channel-pga-tour-live-betcast-presented-by-draftkings-scottie-scheffler-memphis-tennessee
- 2026 St. Jude Championship TV schedule, coverage - https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/2026-st-jude-championship-tv-schedule-coverage-where-to-watch-tee-times-fedex-cup-playoffs
