The PGA Tour heads to Memphis this week for the FedEx St. Jude Classic in a final tune-up before the U.S. Open.
Adam Scott kept his 17-year major championship streak alive Monday by using a sectional qualifier to earn a spot in next week's U.S. Open. Also, 19-year-old Joaquin Niemann, who finished t-6 last week, already has three top-10 finishes on Tour this year. A win this week would earn him a two-year exemption.
While the FedEx St. Jude is often seen as a bridge between the end of the Texas Swing and the U.S. Open, it quietly boasts a strong field with plenty of intriguing storylines.
The Course
TPC Southwind, a 7,244-yard par 70, features an even smaller version of the famed 17th at TPC Sawgrass, as the par-3 11th requires only a short iron over water to a small island green.
The par-4 18th also serves as an entertaining finishing hole. The dogleg left features trees and a wide creek down the left side of the fairway, forcing players to hit less than driver off the tee.
Defending Champion
Daniel Berger is in search of a third straight win at TPC Southwind. He defeated Charl Schwartzel and Whee Kim by one stroke last year to survive a crowded leaderboard. Berger has failed to record a top-10 finish so far this year, but a return to Memphis may be just what he needs.
Favorites
Dustin Johnson, winner here in 2012, returns for a final tune-up before heading to New York next week. It's been a relatively quiet season for the world's second-ranked player, but he seems to turn it on in the summer months.
Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson both have runner-up finishes here and both have enjoyed strong recent form. Koepka finished second two weeks ago at the Fort Worth Invitational, and he appears fully recovered from his early-year wrist injury.
Henroik Stenson and Tony Finau have quietly put together solid seasons, and each could put a stamp on 2018 with a win this week.
Sleepers
Peter Uihlein has two top-5 finishes in his last three starts, proving his college and European Tour form can translate to the PGA Tour. He was in the same ilk as Rickie Fowler coming out of college and could still reach those heights professionally.
Charl Schwartzel is also in the field this week, trying to extend a run of solid form.
FedEx St. Jude Classic TV, streaming info
Dates: June 7-10
Location: Memphis, Tenn.
TV (all times ET):
Thursday: 4-7 p.m., Golf Channel
Friday: 4-7 p.m., Golf Channel
Saturday: 1-2:45 p.m., Golf Channel; 3-6 p.m., CBS
Sunday: 1-2:45 p.m., Golf Channel; 3-6 p.m., CBS
Streaming: fuboTV (7-day free trial)