The FedEx Cup Playoffs are here, which elevates not only the stakes on the PGA Tour, but the stakes in your one-and-done pool as well. Round one of the playoffs is always held in Memphis at TPC Southwind. Although this is a "TPC" course, it is a tad different than the majority of TPC designs we see from week to week on the PGA Tour.
Southwind is longer than most of The TPC Designs and asks you more questions than simply driving it straight and wedging it nicely. There are golfers who play well here on an annual basis, so we will surely take a look at course history when handicapping this event. Justin Thomas famously won this event while losing strokes on the putting greens. That is almost impossible to do, but it really shows how important solid-ball striking is on a course like this.
Let's break down my one-and-done preview for the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship this weekend.
2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship One-and-Done Preview
Collin Morikawa +1400
Who has had the best season without a win this year? Collin Morikawa. He has been so solid throughout the game and is simply too good a player to not have a win. I believe that changes this week.
Like I said, his 2024 has been so solid, but his last two weeks are the best two weeks of ball-striking of the entire year. He may just be peaking at the right time, like Viktor Hovland did last year.
Morikawa has played this event four times and has absolutely striped the golf ball in every trip here. Morikawa always sounds amazing in his interviews and is primed to pick up another victory. If you have him available, do not hesitate to grab him in your pool.
Tony Finau +3000
Finau is coming into the event with some great ball-striking form and some spotty results. Putting it out there now, I truly do not believe Finau can win this event, but I really do like the floor he provides with the ball striking.
Finau has played here plenty of times and knows his way around the course. His best finish is a top-5, and I really believe he will be around this week. In his last start at The 3M Open, he gained over five strokes ball striking, which is great heading into the week. More important than all of that, Finau has gained strokes by putting in five straight events.
If you know anything about Tony Finau, you know that he really struggles on the greens. If we are getting Tony in-form, while making some putts, he is a great play in your FedEx St. Jude one-and-done pool.
Tom Kim +3000
If you watched the Olympics, you saw how close Kim was to medaling. We all know how important that was to him, as he needs a medal to avoid mandatory military service. Although this week's event has no bearing on that, he seems as determined as ever to grab another win.
Tom Kim is coming off of the best ball-striking week of his entire career, which is crazy to say. He has already won three times on tour and has never hit the ball better than he did last week. Kim is not scared of the big moment and will give his best effort to get the job done in Memphis.
