FedEx St. Jude Championship: A Preview of Golf’s Unique Playoff Event

3 days ago 0

Golf is unique as a sport where fans often prioritize the regular season over the playoffs. The PGA TOUR 2026 season surprisingly continues after the British Open with the FedExCup Playoffs. The first event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, kicks off at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.

Only the top 69 players in the FedExCup standings advance to this playoff, following Daniel Berger’s withdrawal. The competition has no cut, with significant playoff points on the line. Only the top 50 golfers will move on to the BMW Championship next week.

Course Details and Strategy

TPC Southwind is a challenging 7,288-yard, par-70 course. It requires precision in iron play due to water hazards and tricky Bermuda greens. Course management and ball-striking are crucial for success.

For betting on the St. Jude Championship, I suggest a strategy that profits 20 units (u) on a golfer’s win, backed by top-10 and top-20 position bets. Below are the golfers I’m backing in this round of the playoffs.

2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship Best Bets

Odds were correct at the time of betting and may change.

Hideki Matsuyama: +3300 (0.61u) at DraftKings and Top-10 with ties +240 (0.5u) at Kalshi
Viktor Hovland: +4356 (0.46u) at Kalshi and Top-10 with ties +275 (0.5u) at BetMGM
Justin Thomas: +5146 (0.39u) at Polymarket and Top-10 with ties +275 (0.5u) at BetMGM
Tom Kim: +5500 (0.36u) at DraftKings and Top-20 with ties +146 (0.75u) at Kalshi
Rickie Fowler: +8481 (0.24u) at Polymarket and Top-20 with ties +189 (0.75u) at Kalshi

Hideki Matsuyama

Matsuyama boasts five straight T20-or-better finishes at TPC Southwind. In 2024, he won the St. Jude Championship at +3000 odds. Currently, Matsuyama’s performance includes T14-or-better finishes in consecutive events, featuring a T3 at the 3M Open and T5 at the Rocket Classic. He excels with driving accuracy and his short-game, making him a standout choice given his course history.

Viktor Hovland

Hovland’s odds seem unfavorable compared to others like Patrick Cantlay, despite their lack of wins. Hovland captured the 2026 Travelers Championship, showing his skills on a similar course. TPC Southwind favors iron play, where he gains strokes consistently. Though his chipping is weak, it’s less critical here, so Hovland is expected to perform well.

Justin Thomas

Thomas’s odds fell to +3605, but early bets capitalize on earlier value. He won the 2020 St. Jude Invitational, with additional wins at water-hazard courses like TPC Sawgrass. Thomas ranks well in strokes gained at TPC Southwind, improving in driving accuracy over recent starts. Expect Thomas to leverage his course familiarity here.

Tom Kim

Kim recently secured a top-20 finish at the Wyndham Championship. Winning the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open, he demonstrated prowess at courses needing precise ball-striking. Ranking second in strokes gained: approach among competitors, Kim maintains strong driving accuracy and approaches. Consider his recent form and promising odds.

Rickie Fowler

Fowler’s season has seen ups and downs, yet he enters the St. Jude with solid form. Securing ten top-20s this season, including a T6 finish last year, Fowler’s ball-striking and putting have improved. Current form suggests potential for top-20 success again.