The 2026 FedExCup Playoffs commence this week with the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. Following the withdrawal of Daniel Berger, only the top 69 golfers in the FedExCup standings are competing. The tournament, which has no cut, offers significant playoff points, with the top 50 players advancing to the subsequent BMW Championship.
TPC Southwind is a par-70 course measuring 7,288 yards. It emphasizes precise iron play over long drives and features water hazards throughout. The Bermuda greens can be challenging, and missed approaches often lead to bogeys. This course setup favors players with strong ball-striking skills and effective course management.
Key Contenders and Betting Strategies
Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama has a notable history at TPC Southwind, achieving five consecutive top-20 finishes and winning the 2024 championship. His recent performance includes five straight top-14 finishes, with three top-7 results in his last three tournaments. Matsuyama's game is well-suited to the course, demonstrating gains in driving accuracy, putting, short-game precision, and iron play.
Viktor Hovland
Hovland, who won the 2026 Travelers Championship, nearly won the St. Jude Championship in 2024, finishing as runner-up. His iron play has been consistently strong, with gains on approach in all four majors this year and eight consecutive starts. While his short game can be inconsistent, TPC Southwind's design de-emphasizes certain aspects of chipping, potentially benefiting his performance.
Justin Thomas
Thomas, a past winner of the 2020 WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational, has a strong record at courses with numerous water hazards, similar to TPC Sawgrass and PGA National. He has shown improvement in driving accuracy, hitting a higher percentage of fairways than the field in recent starts. Thomas has secured eight top-20 finishes this season, including a T4 at the 2026 PGA Championship. His performance at TPC Southwind has historically included gaining strokes on approach.
Tom Kim
Kim's recent form includes a tie for fifth at the Wyndham Championship and a win at the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open, preceded by a third-place finish at the U.S. Open. His precision ball-striking is a significant asset at TPC Southwind, particularly with the course's emphasis on accuracy due to water hazards. Kim has consistently gained strokes with his irons and in driving accuracy at this event over the past three years.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler enters the championship with strong recent performance, including three consecutive top-20 finishes: T15 at the John Deere Classic, T18 at the British Open, and T8 at the Rocket Classic. His ball-striking and putting have shown improvement this season. At last year's St. Jude Championship, Fowler ranked fifth in Strokes Gained: Ball-striking en route to a T6 finish.
For the 'One-and-Done' pool, Viktor Hovland is a notable pick. The betting strategy for the event involves placing outright bets to profit 20 units, supplemented by top-10 and top-20 wagers on selected golfers.