WGC-FedEx St. Jude preview: What to know for the week in Memphis
The first World Golf Championship since the PGA Tour restart is here with the FedEx St. Jude Invitational set to take place at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
A limited field of the world's best will compete for the $1.82-million first-place check, with the event acting as the perfect appetizer before next week's PGA Championship in San Francisco.
When: July 30-Aug. 2
Where: TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee
How to watch
United States
| Date | Channel | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Thurs. July 30 | Golf Channel | 2-7 p.m. |
| Fri. July 31 | Golf Channel | 2-7 p.m. |
| Sat. Aug. 1 | Golf Channel CBS |
12-2 p.m. 2-6 p.m. |
| Sun. Aug. 2 | Golf Channel CBS |
1-3 p.m. 3-7 p.m. |
Canada
| Date | Channel | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Thurs. July 30 | Golf Channel | 2-7 p.m. |
| Fri. July 31 | Golf Channel | 2-7 p.m. |
| Sat. Aug. 1 | Golf Channel TSN 1/5 |
12-2 p.m. 2-6 p.m. |
| Sun. Aug. 2 | Golf Channel TSN 1 |
1-3 p.m. 3-7 p.m. |
Featured-group coverage can be streamed online daily from the first tee shot wherever PGA Tour Live is available.
The field
Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Justin Thomas headline the star-studded group of 78 players taking on TPC Southwind. Forty-four of the top 50 players in the world are participating in the no-cut event. The only top 15 players skipping the tournament are Adam Scott and Tiger Woods.
Dustin Johnson and defending champion Brooks Koepka will look to regain form at a course they've found success in the past leading into next week's PGA Championship. Additionally, notables in the field who rank outside the top 50 include Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, and Phil Mickelson.
Featured groups (all times ET)
Group: Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler
Thursday - 12:40 p.m.
Friday - 1:40 p.m.
Group: Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson
Thursday - 12:50 p.m.
Friday - 1:50 p.m.
Group: Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama
Thursday - 1:40 p.m.
Friday - 12:30 p.m.
Group: Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland, Patrick Reed
Thursday - 1:50 p.m.
Friday - 12:40 p.m.
The full list of groups and tee times can be found here.
The course
TPC Southwind is a 7,277-yard, par-70 course that places a premium on ball-striking. With water in play on 11 holes, players who are long and straight off the tee have a massive advantage, especially with seven par 4s over 450 yards.
Six of the eight winners at TPC Southwind have led the field in strokes gained: tee to green, further proving that ball-striking is a prerequisite to winning. Koepka's win last year and Ben Crane's victory in 2014 are the two outliers, as they gained 9.3 and 8.8 strokes putting, respectively, en route to their triumphs.
It's worth noting last year was the first time TPC Southwind hosted the WGC Invitational event, which was previously played at Firestone Country Club in Ohio. Before the WGC arrived, the tournament at TPC Southwind was called the St. Jude Classic.
Past winners at TPC Southwind
2019: Brooks Koepka (-16) - WGC
2018: Dustin Johnson (-19)
2017: Daniel Berger (-10)
2016: Daniel Berger (-13)
2015: Fabian Gomez (-13)
2014: Ben Crane (-10)
Betting corner
Here are the odds to win for the top portion of the betting board:
- Rory McIlroy +800
- Jon Rahm +900
- Bryson DeChambeau +1000
- Justin Thomas +1000
- Xander Schauffele +1500
- Patrick Cantlay +2000
- Webb Simpson +2000
- Collin Morikawa +2500
- Daniel Berger +2500
- Matthew Fitzpatrick +2500
- Tommy Fleetwood +2500
- Tony Finau +2500
- Viktor Hovland +2800
- Brooks Koepka +3000
- Gary Woodland +3000
- Hideki Matsuyama +3000
- Patrick Reed +3000
- Tyrrell Hatton +3000
The full betting preview with picks to win can be found here.
(Odds source: theScore Bet)
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