FedEx St. Jude Championship DFS Guide
Best Value Picks and Key Stats for TPC Southwind
- Field: 70 Players
- Cut: No Cut
- First Tee: Thursday, August 15th
Defending FedEx St. Jude Championship Winner: Lucas Glover
TPC Southwind, a perennial fixture on the PGA Tour, once again takes center stage as golfers compete in the FedEx St. Jude Championship, a critical event in the FedExCup Playoffs. Nestled in Memphis, Tennessee, this course is renowned for its challenging layout and classic Southern charm, making it a favorite among both players and fans.
Designed by Ron Prichard with input from golf legends Hubert Green and Fuzzy Zoeller, TPC Southwind has been a true test of golf since its opening in 1988. As the host of the FedEx St. Jude Championship in recent years, and previously the St. Jude Classic since 1989, this course has seen countless memorable moments. Signature holes like the iconic island green on the par-3 11th and the dramatic par-4 18th, guarded by water and bunkers, are well-known for their ability to challenge even the best golfers.
At 7,243 yards and playing as a par-70, TPC Southwind features narrow, tree-lined fairways and some of the smallest greens on the PGA Tour. The strategic bunkering and water hazards on 11 holes require precision, often forcing golfers to take less than driver off the tee. According to BetTheNumber, it’s rated as one of the least driver-friendly courses on tour, with a score of just 1.7 out of 10.
As the FedExCup Playoffs begin, players will need to contend with the course’s challenges and the high temperatures typical of August in Memphis. This combination of factors is sure to test the field and could lead to a tightly contested tournament. If you’re preparing your DFS golf lineups this week, look no further for the key stats that can guide your picks and boost your chances of success.
Accuracy Off the Tee
TPC Southwind is a course where being long off the tee is not an advantage if you’re playing from the rough. The small greens make it difficult to stick your approach close to the flag if your second shot comes from the rough. It’s also important to note that I didn’t mention accuracy with the driver. On holes that force golfers to take less than a driver, it will be critical to hit their layups to the fairway and to a distance they feel comfortable with on approach. The three-inch Bermuda rough, tree-lined fairways, and water coming into play on 11 holes all make this a key stat to consider this week.
SG: Approach
This course has shown us time and time again that there is a clear relationship between a high greens in regulation (GIR) percentage and finishing high on the leaderboard. Three of the top five golfers on the leaderboard last year ranked in the top 10 regarding GIR percentage. When we consider how this relates to approach stats, we need to identify the distances from which approach shots tend to occur. Most approach shots this week should fall into either the 125-150 yard range (24%) or the 150-175 yard range (18%). The stats show that if you want to win this week, you need to include golfers in your lineups who excel at hitting approach shots from these ranges.
SG: Putting
Another week, another course with small, undulating greens where putting is critical. The importance of putting this week hinges on taking advantage of hitting a high percentage of greens in regulation (GIR). Finding your way to the green and sinking putts will put you at a major advantage over golfers, who have to scramble all weekend. I considered using 3-putt avoidance here but felt that SG: Putting already accounts for that. Focus on golfers who can sink long putts but also find those who won’t 4-putt a par 4 (I’m looking at you, Max Greyserman).
This week marks the beginning of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, where all 70 golfers will compete over 72 holes. Only the top 50 golfers in the standings after this week will advance to the BMW Championship next week in Colorado. Understanding the playoff structure and using the stats above, the four golfers listed below are all priced under $9K and offer strong DFS value for your lineups this week!
$8.5K – Billy Horschel
Horschel may be priced a bit too high to be considered a value play on other sites. However, coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes at The Open and Wyndham, Billy Ho is excelling in the key stats mentioned above. Gaining over 1 stroke on approach and averaging 0.9 strokes putting, his game is rounding into form. He also has plenty of course history at TPC Southwind, having played here twelve times and amassing 5 top-10 finishes and 2 additional top-25s. The field this week is stronger than in some previous years, but with his knowledge of the course and current form, Horschel seems primed for a top finish this weekend.
$7.7K – Adam Scott
My reasoning for picking Scott is similar to my reasoning for Horschel. While Scott doesn’t play as frequently, he has shown great form with a second-place finish at the Scottish Open and a T10 at The Open. This season, Scott has only lost strokes on approach five times and putting six times. On a course where you need to hit approach shots close and make plenty of putts, Scott appears to be a strong option. His course history isn’t as extensive as Horschel’s, but he has played here five times, including a T5 in 2022. Given the golfer’s priced around him, I don’t expect Scott to be chalky, so I will be overweight on him compared to the field.
$7.6K – Brian Harman
I feel like Harman is a strong play on shorter courses that test precision and putting. TPC Southwind seems like a course where Harman should excel year after year. He is above the Tour average in approach, driving accuracy, and putting. At Southwind, Harman has a T3 finish, though a T36 and a T31 bookended that result. One thing I like about Harman is that he seems to elevate his game based on the field he plays in. Some of his best finishes this season have been at Signature Events, including a T2 at The Players and a T9 at The Travelers. If Harman gains even just 0.5 strokes in both putting and approach, I find it hard to see him finishing outside the top 15.
$6.6K – Ben Griffin
This pick scares me, and I have a feeling he might garner more interest this week than I would like. I expect his ownership to be closer to 5%, which in this range is relatively chalky. His 7-under round 3 at the Wyndham gives me hope that Griffin can play well at this course. If he can avoid being too wild off the tee, Griffin offers immense upside on approach and with the flat stick in his hands. He played here last year and finished T24, so he also has some experience at the course. I will nervously be backing plenty of Ben Griffin this week in DFS.
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