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WGC- FedEx St. Jude Invitational: Expert Picks

Matthew Fitzpatrick thrives at Southwind.

By Mark Abell
PGA: WGC - FedEx St. Jude Invitational - Third Round Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Tournament Information

WGC- Fed-Ex St. Jude Invitational
Date: August 5th – 8th
Course: TPC Southwind
Purse: $10.5MM ($1.8MM to winner)
2020 Winner: Justin Thomas (-13)

Course

TPC Southwind - Established in 1988, this 7,240 yard par 70 course was designed by Ron Prichard. One of the more woodsy courses, the Memphis prize has a bucolic mixture of trees, rivers, lakes and wildlife. It is known most for its 11th hole, which mimics the 17th island green at TPC Sawgrass. Accuracy means much more than power and distance at Southwind.

FedEx St. Jude Invitational - Final Round Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

My Starting 4

Dustin Johnson (fourth selection this year) – Whenever I think WGC (any of them) Dustin comes to mind. Here specifically he’s been top 20 each of the last three years.

Brooks Koepka (third selection this year) — He had a very ‘meh’ set of rounds here in 2017 and 2018. The last two years: 1st and 2nd place respectively. Koepka is currently 3rd in total strokes gained and has a good cadence of playing in the largest tournaments to avoid excessive injuries.

Webb Simpson (fifth selection this year) – I like to think of Webb as an elite golfer who doesn’t get enough respect. He was 2nd here in 2019 and 12th here last year. Webb does have two missed cuts in his last three tournaments but also holds an impressive 16th OWGR right now.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (second selection this year) — Only Brooks and Matthew have two top seven finishes at the Fed Ex St. Jude Invitational each of the last two years. Fitzpatrick was 4th in 2019 and 6th last year.

My Bench 2

Justin Thomas (fifth selection this year) — Justin won here last year with an admirable 12th place finish in 2019. Thomas is currently 4th in OWGR and 6th in total strokes gained.

Daniel Berger (second selection this year) — Berger won here in 2017, did not participate in 2018, finished essentially last in 2019 and then rebounded to 2nd last year. Here’s to hoping the 2017 and 2020 were foreshadowing of his 2021 efforts here.

Fun Fact: Factoring in yards, course rating, and slope rating, this is among the three toughest par 70s on the tour.

2020-2021 Stats

(1st percent would be the top golfer picked every week)

Starting 4: Average finish 40th (30th percent)
Bench 2: Average finish 51st (38th percent)