The WGC St Jude is known for attracting one of the strongest fields of the year. With its huge purse & no cut this week the majority of the OGWR top 50 will be here. Some players flying over from the Olympics could be struggling with fatigue & jetlag this week. Especially someone like Patrick reed who has had some huge travel days lately, the last 4 weeks has earned his frequent flyer miles with flights from America to Scotland back to American then to Tokyo & now back to America. Over 20,000 miles flown. However, most players have played here before so won’t need to much practice to familiarise themselves with the course again. TPC Southwind Hosts this week for the 3rd time with previous events held in 2020 & 2019 at this course.
Course
TPC Southwind located in Tennessee will host this year for the 3rd time. It has however held PGA tour events since 1989 with the ST Jude Classic until 2018 before becoming a WGC event in 2019. The course was designed by Ron Prichard & measures just 7244 yards, a very low yardage by modern day course lengths but that is reflected with the scorecard being a Par 70. 4 par 3s,12 par 4s & 2 par 5s making up the card. Water is in play in over half of the holes this week so accuracy will be needed this week to ensure no shots end up water bound for the dreaded drop shots & 3 off the tee that the punters hate to see. Since 2003 over 5500 balls have found the water at this course which is the record on tour. The 12th hole being the worst with over 950 balls in the water. Strokes gained tee to green could be vital this week along with a very accurate player.
Previous Winners – 2018 wasn’t classed as WGC
2020 – Justin Thomas – Score -13 Pre event odds 12/1
2019 – Brooks Koepka – Score -16 Pre event odds 9/1
2018 – Dustin Johnson – Score -19 Pre event odds 6/1
2017 – Daniel Berger – Score -10 Pre event odds 25-1
2016 – Daniel Berger – Score -13 Pre event odds N/A
@Golftipster5 Selections:
Brooks Koepka 12-1 William Hill 7 Places
Brooks will be one of the freshest out there this week after not playing since The Open championship where he finished 6th. One of the most inform players at the minute just missing on adding to his win at the Waste management earlier in the year. In his last 5 starts he has finished 6-5-4-MC-2, 3 of those starts were also Majors. Having won this event in 2019 & finishing 2nd behind JT last year he clearly likes this track which makes him my easiest pick of the week the week even at a short number. He ranks 4th in strokes gained total with an average score this season of 69.677 which ranks him 5th. His strokes gained tee to green he is 3rd this season & stroke gained off the tee he is 10th. Both key stats I believe to find a winner this week.
Dustin Johnson 20-1 Paddy Power 7 Places
A few pundits were questioning DJ after his missed cut at the 3M open last time out but this week he returns to a course where he has won twice before & in the most recent 2 WGCs here he has shot every round in the 60s. DJ won here in 2012 & 2018 at the St Jude Classic. A scoring average of 69.658 ranks DJ 3rd on tour this season & his stroke gained total he is 23rd. Par 3 & 4 scoring he is 28th & 27th which will be vital this week with just 2 par 5 for him to take apart. DJ will be looking to add to his 6 WGC titles he already has. Current form reads MC-8-25-9-10
Patrick Cantlay 25-1 William Hill 7 Places
The memorial Champion statistically is one of the best players on tour this season. His strokes gained total is 6th on tour which is made up of a 15th Strokes gained off the tee, 8th around the green, 4th tee to green, 25th approach the green & 53rd putting. This week is only a par 70 with only 2 par 5s so the par 4 are crucial this week & he ranks 5th in par 4 scoring this season. In his 2 previous starts here, he has finished 35th & 12th. Current form reads MC-13-15-1-23
Harris English 45-1 William Hill 7 Places
Harris won at this course back in 2013 when it was the St Jude Classic. Since winning in 2013 he played in all the remaining St Jude Classic but never in the WGC, his course form is 1-MC-45-26-10-MC. After his win 2 starts ago, he will be full of confidence going into a course he has had success at before. Harris already has 2 victories this season which has risen him up to personal best official golf world ranking of 10th (Prior to Olympics, now 14th) He is statistically one of the best putters on the tour ranking inside the top 20 at 18th. His average score this season is 70.153 which ranks 24th, which is helped when you have 305 birdies in 79 rounds averaging 4.28 per round. Current form reads 46-1-3-14-64
Outsider
Stewart Cink 125-1 Paddy Power 7 Places
Stewart has won 2 times over the past year which gets him in the field this week along with being in the Official golf world ranking top 50. He is yet to play in a WGC at TPC Southwind however he has played in the St Jude Classic numerous times. In his last 5 outings here, he has finished 4-10-65-37-53. Stewart is one of the best green hitters on tour, he is currently 9th best & hits 70.27% of greens in regulation. With 4 par 3s on the scorecard he can be sure to add some birdies this week as he ranks 1st in par 3 scoring this season. Current form reads MC-MC-30-57-47
Good Luck with all Bets
@golftipster5