The world’s top golfers will head to Memphis this week for the 2017 staging of the FedEx St. Jude Classic. A cool $6.4 million is at stake for the 156-man field with the champion grabbing not only 500 FedExCup points, but also the $1.152 million top prize. Read on below for an in-depth analysis of this prestigious event and while you’re at it, you can check out this tournament’s purse breakdown.
Favorites – Adam Scott (+1,200) and Rickie Fowler (+750)
It isn’t a complete surprise to see Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler installed as favorites to win this week’s FedEx St. Jude Classic. Scott and Fowler are the two highest-ranked players in the field and they’re both playing some terrific golf of late. Scott has turned his season around after a slow start, nabbing top-1os in two of his last four Tour appearances. He finished tied for ninth at the Masters last April before copping a T6 at last month’s Players Championship. Scott’s only other appearance at the FedEx St. Jude Classic came a decade ago, when he led the field heading into Sunday. The Aussie collapsed, however, with a final-round 75 and disappointingly finished in seventh place.
Fowler, on the other hand, came close to winning his first PGA Tour event of the year at last week’s Memorial Tournament. He lost by just three shots to Jason Dufner as he stumbled at Muirfield’s back nine. Make no mistake about it, though, it’s only a matter of time before Fowler crashes the winner’s circle once again. With his T2 at the Memorial, Fowler has now recorded four top-five finishes this season. Experience will not be in the cards for Fowler, though, this week as he will be making just his second appearance in Memphis. When Fowler last played at the FedEx St. Jude Classic three years ago, he finished in a tie for 13th.
High-Value Sleepers – Ryan Palmer (+4,000) and Daniel Berger (+2,800)
One golfer who loves playing here at TPC Southwind is Ryan Palmer. The 40-year-old has top-25s in three of his last five trips to Memphis, including a T3 in 2012 and a fourth-place finish in 2013. Palmer is playing some solid golf of late as well, nabbing top-11 finishes in three of his last five starts, including a sixth-place showing at the Texas Open.
Another golfer who’s primed for a huge performance this week is Daniel Berger. He arrives at this tournament as the defending champion, prevailing by three shots last year with a 13-under-par total of 267. Like Palmer, Berger’s in fine form as well, recording three top-10s this season, including a fifth-place showing at the Shell Houston Open last April.
One long shot who can definitely spring a surprise this week is Camilo Villegas. Yes, he has missed the cut in seven of his last 10 PGA Tour starts but Villegas has already shown in the past that he has the game to tame TPC Southwind. The Colombian has manufactured seven top-20s in 11 starts in this esteemed golf course, including three such finishes in the last four years. Villegas tied for 63rd at last week’s Memorial Tournament.
Writer’s Prediction
Rickie Fowler (+750) ends his title drought with a win in Memphis.
