Rickie Fowler joins defending champion Daniel Berger and Brooks Koepka as the headliners for this week’s FedEx St. Jude Classic. Since 1958, the tournament has been coming to the Memphis area, and it is generally played the week before the U.S. Open.
The betting field features eight of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Rankings. Adam Scott makes his first visit to Memphis in more than a decade. Veterans Steve Stricker and Phil Mickelson are pegging it up, as are Europeans Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Russell Knox, Graeme McDowell, Francesco Molinari and Ian Poulter.
Peter Uihlein makes a rare start on American soil, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, and former World No. 1, David Duval, comes out of the broadcast booth to make his second start of the year. Current NCAA individual winner, Braden Thornberry out of Ole Miss, gets his first taste of playing against the big boys as he tees it up on a sponsor’s exemption as well.
Players also have a chance to get an invitation to next week’s U.S. Open. Anyone who moves into the top 60 in the world rankings after the St. Jude’s conclusion gets the invite.
TPC Southwind in Memphis has been the host venue since 1989. The layout measures 7,244 yards and plays to a par 70. The signature hole is the par 3, No. 11, which draws comparisons to the famed 17th at TPC Sawgrass, requiring a short iron over water to a small island green.
 Last year, Daniel Berger picked up his first PGA Tour win by holding off Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker. The former Rookie of the Year birdied three holes on the back nine to secure the win.
TV Coverage: Thursday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. ET – Golf Channel. Saturday-Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m. – CBS.
FedEx St. Jude Classic Golf Odds
Rickie Fowler +750
Brooks Koepka +1000
Adam Scott +1200
Francesco Molinari +1450
Phil Mickelson +1600
Daniel Berger +2000
Russell Henley +2200
Billy Horschel +2450
Charl Schwartzel +2550
Kevin Chappell +2750
Steve Stricker +3000
Danny Lee +3030
Ian Poulter +3250
Kyle Stanley +3500
Ryan Palmer +3750
Kevin Tway +4000
Peter Uihlein +4100
Scott Piercy +4200
Seung-Yul Noh +4250
Brian Gay +4500
Daniel Summerhays +4650
Graeme McDowell +4800
Harold Varner III +5000
Harris English +5500
J.B. Holmes +5555
Jamie Lovemark +5950
Rafa Cabrera-Bello +6000
Russell Knox +6250
Stewart Cink +6500
William McGirt +6666
Keegan Bradley +7000
Ben Martin +7250
Smylie Kaufman +7450
Sung Kang +7500
Chris Kirk +7850
Hudson Swafford +8000
J.T. Poston +8250
Jim Furyk +8500
Nick Watney +8750
Scott Brown +9000
Cameron Tringale +9500
Camilo Villegas +9999
Chad Campbell +10000
FIELD – Any Other Player +375
(Odds courtesy BookMaker.eu)
Stud
Francesco Molinari +1450 is still searching for his first win on American soil and it could come this week in Memphis. The Italian is arguably the hottest player on the planet without a win. He’s made his last 10 cuts worldwide, which included a T6 at The PLAYERS and a solo second at the BMW PGA Championship in his last start on the European Tour. He’s finally getting comfortable here in the United States, and he is a real factor anytime he tees it up. I’m backing Molinari this week!
Dud
J.B. Holmes +5555 was cruising with a three-shot lead heading to the last round of The PLAYERS a few weeks ago. Things looked promising for him to win the title and then the wheels came flying off. He posted a final round 84 to fall all the way to a T41, and he hasn’t recovered, missing both cuts since his meltdown. His confidence is gone and that one round will haunt him, maybe for the rest of this year and perhaps the rest of his career. FADE Holmes!
Value
There is no way the 30th-ranked player in the world should be +6000, but that’s what Rafa Cabrera-Bello is this week. The Spaniard is hot and cold but when he’s on top of his game, he is in the mix. I’m banking on Bello to have a hot week and at that price, he’s worth a look in all formats.
Check out the latest Fedex St. Jude Classic golf odds.
