FedEx St Jude Championship

We head to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee for the FedEx St Jude Championship.

The last three editions of this event have been held at TPC Southwind and prior to that we know this course from holding the FedEx St Jude Classic since 1989. The tournament moved to WGC status in 2019 then from 2022 onwards formed part of the FedEx playoff events. 

The top 70 in the FedEx rankings make their way to Memphis this week and in the stats table below I've included the last four years this course has held an event. Neither driving statistic rates prominently in the results here and even strokes gained off the tee doesn't feature a lot. 

Instead look to what happens from the second shot onwards with the leader in greens in regulation making the top five in two of the last four editions. Last year the GIR stats of the top six golfers read 4th, 11th, 8th, 3rd, 8th, 4th. 

The leader in scrambling has made the top five in three of the last four years so clearly precision with irons or an ability to save shots around the greens counts a lot more than strong driving this week. 

FedEx St Jude Championship Winners

  • 2024 - H.Matsuyama (-17)
  • 2023 - L.Glover (-15)
  • 2022 - W.Zalatoris (-15)
  • 2021 - T.Finau (-20)*
  • 2020 - D.Johnson (-30)**
  • 2019 - P.Reed (-16)*

 

*Held at Liberty National
**Held at TPC Boston

FedEx St Jude Championship Tips

 

 

Viktor Hovland @ 33/1 (Six Places)

I can't turn down Viktor Hovland at the prices this week and with upwards of 33/1 he looks a really nice bet. He didn't fire in Portrush but that wasn't going to be a test that suited his game. 11th in Scotland was fine and one must not forget his 3rd placed finish in the US Open only six weeks ago. 

Hovland can't be too far away from regaining some of his best form and a trip back to Southwind should suit. He finished runner up here last year and with his 13th placed finish the year before that now means he has rounds of 63-64-65 and three rounds of 66 in his last eight here. 

That is trending form on a venue that rewards his excellent iron play. It's mostly a matter of whether he can scramble and putt well, but he's done that well before and it's worth noting he has gained on the field significantly on the greens in his last three appearances here. 

We didn't see a much bigger price for the Open a few weeks ago and this is a test that is much more suitable to the Norwegian. With McIlroy missing this is a big chance for him to notch his second victory of the season and set himself up nicely for a run at the Tour Championship in a few weeks.

2pts each-way V.Hovland 33/1 (1/5 6) Unibet, BetMGM, VirginBet

Daniel Berger @ 50/1 (Six Places)

Scheffler's record here reads CUT-43-15-14-CUT-31-4. This may be a sensible week to take him on and I'd hazard a guess he hasn't picked up a club too often since his win in Portrush. 

A two time winner here Daniel Berger looks one worth siding with in a difficult punting heat. Berger ranks 6th in the field for approach play throughout the last 12 and 24 rounds and ranks 4th in par 4 scoring in the field in the last 12 months. His driving has been arrow straight of late and that's an advantage to avoid the water around Southwind.

 

He made all three cuts across the US Open, Scottish Open and Open Championship and had he putted a shade better on those occasions then he'd have seen much better results. A return to these greens at Southwind should evoke good memories and with a 5th place and runner up to add to his two victories he is the form course player in the field. 

He has been doing all the right things lately bar finding a good putting week and his long game should be enough to gain plenty on the field throughout the four days. 

1.5pts each-way D.Berger 50/1 (1/5 6) Unibet, BetMGM, VirginBet

Sam Burns @ 33/1 (Six Places)

Finally, I'll include Sam Burns whose distance and accuracy from the tee is a huge advantage around Southwind. Beaten in a playoff here back in 2021 and 5th last year Burns has shown plenty here to suggest he can go one better at some stage and lift the trophy. 

It has been a nearly year for Burns and really he should be disappointed not to have landed a victory given the way he has putted throughout the year. It has been the putter that has held him back the last few weeks but I don't expect that trend to continue. 

Instead look to his par 4 scoring which is important around here ranking 6th in the field in the last three months. 10th in the field in proximity from 100-150 and 15th from 150-200 in the last 12 rounds suggests he's hitting the ball well enough to compete here. 

If he's accurate enough from the tee which he has been of late then he should have plenty of chances to score this week and get into contention here once again. 

1.5pts each-way S.Burns 33/1 (1/5 6) General