FedEx St. Jude Championship 2023: Preview, Tips & Free Bets
The FedEx Cup Playoffs are back, and the first event on the cards is the FedEx St. Jude Championship. This rebranded event replaced the Northern Trust to lead off the Playoffs, and the Top 70 players qualify based on the FedEx Cup points they’ve amassed during the regular PGA Tour season. Let’s take a detailed look at this unique tournament and the top tips for placing free bets.
Tournament Details
Let’s break down the essentials as we approach the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the opener to the three-event FedEx Cup Playoffs. Marking a shift from a previous four-event structure, the Playoffs were trimmed to three in 2019. The tournament series now features a methodical progression, commencing with 70 players in the FedEx St. Jude Championship, whittling down to 50 for the BMW Championship, and culminating with 30 contenders in the Tour Championship.
Setting the FedEx St. Jude Championship apart from regular tournaments, there will be no cuts after the initial 36 holes, a rule consistent with the BMW Championship and Tour Championship. The stakes are high, as the champions of the first two Playoff events are set to rake in a whopping 2,000 points—four times the points awarded in regular season events. Meanwhile, the Tour Championship employs a unique strokes-based formula referred to as the FedEx Cup Starting Strokes, adding another layer of charm to this competition.
Course Facts & Overview: TPC Southwind
| Location | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Distance | 7,200+ yard Par 70 course |
| Designed By | Ron Prichard, Hubert Green, Fuzzy Zoeller |
| Key Features | Water in play on ten holes and half the holes being doglegs |
| Favours | Experienced player with strong skills in scrambling and bogey avoidance |
Situated in Memphis, Tennessee, TPC Southwind has been a staple in the PGA Tour since its inauguration in 1989. With its sprawling 7,200+ yards and Par 70 layout, this course provides one of the most rigorous tee-to-green challenges on the tour. Designed with precision by Ron Prichard and aided by golf legends Hubert Green and Fuzzy Zoeller, the course has been transformed over time. A major overhaul in 2004 brought in new bunkers, supplementary trees, and recontoured fairways, all of which were tightened and stretched by over 200 yards.
TPC Southwind doesn’t only stand out for its aesthetics but for the test it poses. Consistently ranking among the top courses for Driving Accuracy and Greens in Regulation, it showcases a terrain fraught with hazards. Water coming into play on ten holes, coupled with half the holes designed as doglegs, places a premium on both accuracy and strategic play. This golf track, with its emphasis on scrambling and bogey avoidance, is likely to be best navigated by seasoned professionals, those whose experience can match the course’s demand for precision and patience.
FedEx St Jude Championship Tips 2023
- Hideki Matsuyama: With a T2 finish at TPC Southwind in 2021 and 10 Top 25s this season, Matsuyama could dominate if fit and injury-free. His balanced stats and top rankings for Strokes Gained Approach and Proximity To Hole make him a valuable each-way bet.
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- Rickie Fowler: Fowler’s consistency in iron play and prowess in putting make him an exciting prospect. His good finishes at TPC Southwind and value in a tight week make him an attractive option, and along with his fan-favourite status, Fowler will be a popular option.
- Tyrrell Hatton: Excelling in SG/approach and SG/putting, Hatton’s stats and performance align well with TPC Southwind. With top-10s in four of his past seven starts, this week could present an excellent opportunity for his second PGA Tour win.
- Sam Burns: A strong contender at TPC Southwind in the past, Burns is in great form. Gaining significant strokes on approach and putting in the recent Wyndham Championship, his style aligns with TPC Southwind. A FedEx Cup playoff win might just be the ticket to Rome for Burns.
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It’s Now Over to the Players to Make Their Mark
The FedEx St. Jude Championship heralds an exciting start to the FedEx Cup Playoffs with its unique structure and progressive cut. The TPC Southwind course, with its challenging layout, ensures that only the most strategic and patient players will emerge victoriously.
Bettors looking to capitalise on this event must consider factors like past performances, current form, and alignment with the unique challenges of the course. Names like Matsuyama, Fowler, Hatton, and Burns present exciting opportunities for sharp punters.
With the stakes elevated and quadruple points on offer, the FedEx St. Jude Championship is set to be an unmissable event, setting the tone for the rest of the Playoffs. It should also provide plenty of opportunities for strategic betting and making the most of those free bets detailed above.
