MEMPHIS - The FedExCup Playoffs changed from a four-tournament series to three in 2019, with the BMW Championship moving up to the second event. Since then, an average of 5.33 players per year have entered the first event outside the Top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings and then gone on to qualify for the BMW Championship (four in 2019, six in 2020, six in 2021). Harry Higgs (missed 2022 playoffs) and Alex Noren (No. 59) both did so in 2020 and 2021.
Tony Finau has won each of his last two starts on the PGA Tour and is also the defending champion this week, winning the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs in 2021 at Liberty National Golf Club in NJ. Finau is one of three players this season to win in back-to-back starts, along with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. The last player to win in three consecutive starts on Tour was Dustin Johnson during the 2016-17 season (The Genesis Invitational, WGC-Mexico Championship, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play).
Joohyung Kim won last week's Wyndham Championship by five strokes, joining the PGA TOUR as a full-time member and qualifying for the FedExCup Playoffs (enters the Playoffs at No. 34 in the FedExCup). At age 20 years, 1 month, 17 days, Kim became the second-youngest winner on the PGA Tour since World War II (youngest: Jordan Spieth, 2013 John Deere Classic) and the first player born in the 2000s to win on Tour. Kim, who will make his first start as a member this week, is eligible for the Arnold Palmer Award as PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year. There are now five rookies in the top 40 in the FedExCup standings: Cameron Young (No. 9), Davis Riley (No. 23), Kim (No. 34), Mito Pereira (No. 38) and Sahith Theegala (No. 39).
Hideki Matsuyama withdrew Wednesday from the FedEx St. Jude Championship because of a neck injury. Matsuyama on Twitter wrote about his withdrawal, “I felt it was the best decision to ensure my neck receives the treatment it needs for me to compete in the BMW Championship and Tour Championship.”
Ryan Palmer voiced his opinion of players filing suit vs. PGA Tour. Ouch!
FedEx St. Jude Championship | Tournament Facts
COURSE: TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tenn.
YARDS/PAR: 7,243 yards/Par 70
ARCHITECT: Ron Pritchard
PRIZE Money - Purse: $15,000,000/$2,700,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Tony Finau
PAST RESULTS: (link)
PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @FedExChamp
TV COVERAGE: The first two rounds (today and August 12) are scheduled for TV coverage from 3:00pm to 7:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel. On Saturday, coverage is set for 1:00pm to 3:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 3:00 to 6:00pm (ET) on NBC. On Sunday, Golf Channel will be covering from 12 Noon to 2:00pm (ET) and NBC from 2:00pm to 6:00pm (ET).
PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING: ESPN+ Live streaming coverage will run from 8:15am to 7:00pm (ET) today and Friday. Weekend streaming on ESPN+ PGA TOUR Live from 8:00am to 6:00pm (ET).
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live coverage of the FedEx St. Jude begins at 1:00pm to 7:00pm (ET) today and Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, coverage will air 1:00pm to 6:00pm (or completion of event). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.
How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)
FedEx St. Jude Championship | Basics
Today’s Tee Times at FedEx St. Jude are from 8:15am to 2:50pm (ET).
Weather: Today’s forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms, a 40% chance of rain with temperatures at 80-degrees and humidity at 78%. Winds expected to blow at 8 mph.
Tournament Web Site: (link)
FedEx Cup Standings: (link)
PGA Tour Brunch will post before 8:00am (ET) Friday
Field, Updates, Tee Times
Field: (link)
Updates (Qualified but not competing):
Daniel Berger (injury)
Lanto Griffin (injury)
Tommy Fleetwood (personal)
Monday
WD - Nate Lashley (toe)
Tuesday
Hideki Matsuyama (neck)
Tee Times: (link)
To DONATE to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, click HERE.
What They’re Saying
Scheffler’s Banked $18m but Can Double It (Golf Week/USA Today)
Scenarios to Advance Before St. Jude (PGATourCom)
How to Watch the FedEx St. Jude (PGATourCom)
FedEx Cup Standings (PGATourCom)
Sports Gambling, Daily Fantasy & Golf Industry News
Expert Picks for FedEx St. Jude - (PGATourCom)
Sleeper Picks at TPC Southfield - (PGATourCom)
Horschel: “I think they’ve been Brainwashed” (Golf Week/USA Today)
On This Day in Golf History
August 11, 1991 - The ninth and final alternate to make the field at the ‘91 PGA Championship, then unknown John Daly completed his shocking domination of the tournament to finish three shots ahead of runner-up Bruce Lietzki at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt
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