The 2024 postseason has arrived, bringing with it the much-anticipated PGA Tour stop at TPC Southwind for the St. Jude Championship, the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. This marks the third consecutive year that TPC Southwind has hosted this critical event, where the top 70 players from the regular season vie for position and survival.
The field is filled with top-tier talent, but only the top 50 by week's end will advance to the BMW Championship. This crucial cut also holds significant implications for the upcoming season, as finishing inside the top 50 guarantees spots in every PGA Tour signature event for the 2025 season.
Key Contenders on the Bubble
Several prominent names find themselves precariously close to elimination. Jordan Spieth, Min Woo Lee, Justin Rose, Nick Dunlap, and Nick Taylor need strong performances to ensure their survival. Of particular note is Viktor Hovland, currently ranked at No. 57 in the standings, who managed a third-place finish at the PGA Championship this year despite ranking 175th out of 176 players in approach and around-the-green stats.
Scottie Scheffler's Dominance
Scottie Scheffler continues to be a force to be reckoned with on the tour. Seeking his eighth victory of the year, Scheffler aims to enter the Tour Championship with a commanding two-stroke lead for the third straight season. Alongside Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy have also been dominant, collectively amassing ten PGA Tour victories in 2024.
Top 20 Standouts
Inside the top 20 of the FedEx Cup standings are notable players like Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala, Sungjae Im, Justin Thomas, and Brian Harman. Intriguingly, this elite group has yet to notch a victory this year, despite consistently strong performances.
Course and Schedule Details
TPC Southwind, known for its challenging layout, plays to a par of 70 and stretches over 7,243 yards. The St. Jude Championship, scheduled from August 15-18, promises intense competition with a lucrative purse of $20 million on the line.
Players to Watch
Xander Schauffele stands out with his consistency, having not finished outside the top 25 since February's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. However, his track record at TPC Southwind is less impressive, with only one top 20 finish dating back to 2020.
Rory McIlroy's form at TPC Southwind paints a different picture. With four top-12 finishes in seven trips to the course, including a T3 finish last year, McIlroy is one to watch. He comes into the championship with four top-five finishes in his last six tournaments, solidifying his status as a strong contender.
Collin Morikawa also presents a compelling case, having secured three top 20s in four appearances at TPC Southwind. Similarly, Patrick Cantlay brings momentum with three consecutive top-25 finishes and notable top-five results at the U.S. Open and the Travelers Championship.
As the players gear up for the St. Jude Championship, the stakes could not be higher. Each shot, each putt will carry the weight of the FedEx Cup dreams, and the pressure to perform will undoubtedly bring out the best in these elite athletes. The journey to the Tour Championship begins now, and every golfer in the field knows that their path to glory starts here, at TPC Southwind.