Racing Post's FedEx St. Jude Championship predictions and free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the FedEx St Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Golf red button, 1.15pm Thursday

Best bets

Sungjae Im
2pts each-way 30-1 general
Matt Fitzpatrick
1.5pts each-way 22-1 general
Sam Burns
1pt each-way 30-1Betfred
Russell Henley
1pt each-way 66-1 bet365

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FedEx St Jude Championship preview

While some of the golfing world's biggest names have upped sticks for the LIV Tour, the top 15 in the world rankings will all be at TPC Southwind this week for the first round of the FedEx Cup playoffs, with a $18m cheque firmly in their sights.

The destination of that prize, previously the biggest in the game before the advent of the Saudi-backed Tour, will not be decided for another two weeks, so the 121 competitors in Memphis will want to ensure they are in the top 70 of the points table to progress to the BMW Championship next week.

This week's test will be a tough one where accuracy should be rewarded and, among a talented assembly, there are some excellent ball-strikers who could have a Tennessee trip to remember.

Wilkerson's top tip

Sungjae Im 35-1

This is the strongest field for punters to get stuck into since last month's Open Championship at St Andrews and plenty of those at the top of the market should be nicely rested after the final Major of the season.

Tony Finau, however, has stolen a march on the field by winning the 3M Open and the Rocket Mortgage Classic and heads into this week's tournament as defending champion, even though that victory came at Liberty National in New York.

So there are plenty of players worthy of consideration on a course many should be familiar with following its hosting of recent PGA Tour and WGC events, and preference is for another player, like Finau, who heads to Tennessee with some good recent form.

Sungjae Im finished three shots behind the man from Utah at the 3M Open and had to settle for another runner-up berth when his South Korean compatriot Joohyung Kim stormed to a five-shot victory at the Wyndham Championship last week.

Maybe Kim's success can give Im an extra push but his statistics should be of greater relevance for this week's test as he is ranked tenth in strokes-gained: tee-to-green, tenth in greens in regulation and ninth in strokes-gained: off-the-tee.

That seems the perfect recipe for success at TPC Southwind, and we should expect much better than his previous course efforts of 46-35.

He missed the cut at the Scottish Open and was 81st at St Andrews, but Im has shown he is back at the top of his game and top-ten finishes in the last two Masters show he is happy to be among elite company, so he could go one better this week.

Next best bet

Matt Fitzpatrick 22-1

Victory at Brookline in the US Open lifted a weight off Matt Fitzpatrick's shoulders and the Sheffield lad can be a force this week.

He is officially the best tee-to-green player on the PGA Tour, gaining an average of 1.87 shots on the field this season and he has not eased up since he won his first Stateside title as he was sixth at the Scottish Open.

His 21st at The Open was also no disgrace, particularly as his effort contained a second-round 66.

Fitzpatrick also boasts decent Southwind finishes of fourth in the WGC event 2019 and sixth in 2020, so another bold show would not be a surprise this week.

Other selections

Sam Burns 30-1

Russell Henley 66-1

Sam Burns lost in a playoff to Abraham Ancer at the WGC St Jude event last year and he has stepped up a gear this term with victories at the Valspar Championship and the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Burns tends to gain at least a shot on the field from tee to green and is ranked 19th in greens in regulation, which should help him conquer this week's test.

Finishes of 66-42 at the Scottish Open and at St Andrews may be seen as a disappointment, but this week's assignment should be much more to his liking.

At a bigger price, it could be worth taking a chance on Russell Henley, who has boosted his confidence with finishes of tenth at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and fifth at last week's Wyndham Championship.

He has not played in the three WGC events at Southwind, but he should enjoy the track as a player who is ranked 11th in strokes-gained: tee-to-green and seventh in greens in regulation.

The 33-year-old from Georgia could ride the wave and go well at decent odds.

Players to note

Justin Thomas
The only course winner in the field, won by three shots in 2020, but needs to pick himself up from a disappointing Open. Has the ball-striking skills to be a big threat.

Rory McIlroy
Saw the Claret Jug slip from his grasp but has finished in the top-ten in six of his last eight outings. The improvements in his approach play and short game mean he has to be considered.

Tony Finau
Consecutive victories at the 3M Open and Rocket Mortgage Classic means he has to enter the equation, even though his triumph last year occurred at a different course.

TPC Southwind course guide

Course TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee
Prize money $15m ($2.7m to winner)
Length 7,243 yards
Par 70
Field 121 Cut Top 65 qualify for final two rounds

Course records - 72 holes 258 John Cook (1996);
18 holes 61 Jay Delsing (1993), Bob Estes (2001),
Tom Lewis (2020)

Highest-ranked players in field (world rankings in brackets) Scottie Scheffler (1), Cameron Smith (2), Rory McIlroy (3), Patrick Cantlay (4), Xander Schauffele (5)

Course winner taking part Justin Thomas

When to bet By 1.15pm Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf red button from 1.15pm Thursday

Time difference Memphis is six hours behind the UK & Ireland

Last week - Wyndham Championship 1 J Kim 35-1, T2 S Im 18-1, J Huh 200-1, 4 B Griffin 300-1, T5 M McGreevy 500-1, R Henley 25-1, T Moore 110-1

Course overview This is the first time TPC Southwind has been used for the FedEx Cup playoffs, but it has been a stalwart venue on the PGA Tour, hosting the St Jude Classic between 1989 and 2018 before being the stage for the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational between 2019-2021.

The course was designed by Ron Prichard in 1988 and underwent a major overhaul in 2004, but will be no stranger to many of the top competitors this week. Plenty of water has to be negotiated in the form of streams, ponds and lakes, while undulating zoysia fairways and Bermuda greens will be tackled.

The 485-yard par-four fifth is a devil of a hole, usually averaging well over par. The par-three 11th draws comparisons with the 17th at Sawgrass, requiring a flick of the wrists with a short iron to a small island green.

The two par-fives (third and 16th) are relatively straightforward and
provide relief during a challenging assignment. The second
and 15th also represent great birdie opportunities.

The players who reside in the top 70 of the FedEx Cup rankings after the tournament will progress to play in next week's BMW Championship.

Of the 125 qualified players, Daniel Berger, Tommy Fleetwood, Lanto Griffin and Nate Lashley will not be playing, so a final field of 121 goes to post.

Story of last year Tony Finau ended a five-year wait for a title with a playoff victory over Cameron Smith at Liberty National, winning on the first extra hole after the Australian fired a wild drive off the tee.

Weather forecast There is a decent chance of rain on Thursday following a couple of wet days, but the rest of the tournament should be played in bright sunshine and light winds.

Type of player suited to the challenge Strong tee-to-green play has been essential to success over the last few years at Southwind, so players who can give it a straight whack off the tee and find greens in regulation should flourish.

It can prove a tight, fiddly venue and this has been a course where length has not proved a great advantage over the years.

Key attribute Accuracy

Spotlight insight Five of the last seven winners at TPC Southwind were ranked first in strokes gained: tee-to-green.

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