The FedEx Cup playoffs are here and we kick off the three week run with the FedEx St Jude Championship.
As always with these events, the lineup is full of the best players on the planet — with the exception of the LIV Tour players whose legal bid to be allowed to play in these events did not come to fruition.
Rory McIlroy, who said this week he took a couple of weeks off and didn’t touch his golf clubs, comes into here as favourite and it is easy to see why. He has done so well in the season ending events over the years, but it is his first action since going so close to winning the Open Championship at St Andrews and it is very possible we see a bit of a hangover of that.
Relatable @McIlroyRory 🙌 pic.twitter.com/2IKEkBtr5y
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 10, 2022
Justin Thomas, an 18/1 shot and the 2020 champion has a lot more appeal. Like McIlroy, he has a great record in the FedEx Playoffs, but here at TPC Southwind in particular he has done very well. The win goes alongside a 12th and 25th place finish — solid numbers considering the quality of the fields.
We have seen some big priced winners of the event but recent years have skewed towards the best players in the game. Thomas has played well and only come away with one win this year — at the PGA Championship nonetheless, but 2021 was the first time in five years that he finished without multiple wins and he is running out of time to rectify that. He has shown that he can blow away a field or grind it out and he may need more of the former on this course that can give up a lot of birdies. But of the favourites, he has more in the positive column than any of the others.
Billy Horschel has an incredible five top 10 finishes here and has to be considered. He has quietly had an excellent season that has seen him climb to number 15 in the world and he can round that off with another big finish. 50/1 seems on the big side considering his form this season and how much he likes it at the track. He won the Memorial by four strokes and is a former FedEx Cup champion. His form since that victory has not been what it was, but he is a great player that likes the big stage.
Tuesday's court ruling in the lawsuit between LIV Golf and the PGA TOUR had the golf world captivated.
Billy Horschel told Colt and Drew that he and other TOUR pros in Memphis were watching closely and were relieved by the outcome.@BillyHo_Golf | @ColtKnost | @thesleezyman | pic.twitter.com/kISrVyhmdG
— SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio (@SiriusXMPGATOUR) August 10, 2022
This is not a course that you need to bomb it to have a chance as Abraham Ancer showed last season and while Matt Fitzpatrick has added plenty of yards off the tee, it is with his irons that he has built his reputation and that will be key this week. The US Open champion looks made for this course with his accuracy and wonderful short game and 20/1 is a decent price for the Englishman.
Collin Morikawa has not had the season he would have been hoping for and comes into the event on the back of two missed cuts. He has taken some time off though and could well come back refreshed at a venue that like Fitzpatrick, should be made for his game. At his best there is not a better iron player in the world and while it will take a bit of faith in him to find something, he is a classy player that will not take long to find his game. 33/1 is a very tempting price and one that you will not see too often for the young American.
Back in his hometown roots.
@Collin_Morikawa returned to La Cañada High School to give back to the community that helped him grow during his childhood.(Presented by @ZurichNA) pic.twitter.com/KbtNUFHMKT
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 10, 2022
This event is a very open one, with even the best players in the world coming in with some sort of question marks. Cam Smith has not played since that win at the Open and it is hard to know how much he will have been able to practice since then.
Ancer will not be here to defend his title, but Thomas has every chance of regaining the title he won two years ago. But we are likely to see a phenomenal leaderboard on Sunday afternoon with such a stacked field.
