PGA First Look: St. Jude Classic

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The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Event Preview

The St. Jude Classic serves as an appetizer for the main course that is the U.S. Open. Most of the top golfers in the world are prepping for next week, but we do have 12 of the top 50 in the field this week. The big story last weekend (besides Jason Dufner’s win) was Phil Mickelson’s announcement that he won’t be playing in the U.S. Open. Instead, he will be attending his daughter’s high school graduation. One of the tricky parts of picking players the week before a major is the issue of potential withdrawals. If a golfer is out of contention or gets off to a bad start, they may pack their bags early and head to Wisconsin. At least in Mickelson’s case, we won’t have to worry about that.

This event is held at the TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. It measures just over 7,200 yards and is a Par 70 that features only two par fives. The course features tight fairways and small greens, both of which are very difficult to hit. Even though the fairways are thin, we will see plenty of drivers this week. There are really only two holes where we will see most golfers club down off the tee. The length may not seem daunting, but it’s actually fairly long for a Par 70 and seven of the par fours measure over 450 yards. We’ve seen short and long hitters play well on this course, but the tie always goes to distance. This week I will be looking for golfers that gain strokes off the tee and on their approach shots. A solid course history doesn’t hurt either.

Note: Jamie Lovemark, Keegan Bradley, Steve Stricker, Padraig Harrington, Kelly Kraft, and Nicholas Thompson have all withdrawn from this week’s event.

Cut Rule: Top 70 and ties move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the original cut.

Recent Winners of this Event: Daniel Berger (2016), Fabian Gomez (2015), Ben Crane (2014), Harris English (2013), Dustin Johnson (2012)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Off the Tee
2) Strokes Gained Approach
3) Birdie or Better Percentage
4) Par 4 Scoring
5) Bogey Avoidance

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2012-2016)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds Cuts 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Rickie Fowler $12,000 $10,500 $19,000 9 8 0% 0% 0% 1/1 500 500 13 500 500
Brooks Koepka $11,500 $10,100 $18,000 22 12 0% 33% 0% 3/3 2 3 19 500 500
Adam Scott $11,000 $10,300 $17,600 12 14 0% -50% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Francesco Molinari $10,500 $8,700 $17,100 16 17 0% 43% 0% 1/1 34 500 500 500 500
Phil Mickelson $10,200 $9,700 $16,900 23 18 0% -25% 0% 4/4 2 3 11 2 500
Russell Henley $9,800 $7,600 $16,200 56 28 -17% 53% 0% 2/3 7 500 117 27 500
Billy Horschel $9,500 $7,700 $16,100 48 29 -14% 38% 0% 4/4 500 8 6 10 72
Daniel Berger $9,300 $9,000 $16,400 43 25 25% 0% 0% 1/1 1 500 500 500 500
Ryan Palmer $9,000 $7,700 $15,600 95 40 -44% 0% -8% 5/5 68 22 32 4 3
Kevin Chappell $8,800 $7,400 $15,800 26 33 -10% 35% -22% 1/1 500 22 500 500 500
Rafael Cabrera-Bello $8,600 $8,300 $14,400 30 61 -118% -200% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Scott Piercy $8,500 $6,900 $14,400 61 62 -117% -8% -13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kyle Stanley $8,400 $6,800 $15,700 92 32 23% 62% 9% 2/4 101 62 72 500 49
Brian Gay $8,200 $5,700 $14,200 248 71 -107% 38% -7% 2/4 6 500 126 39 119
Seung-Yul Noh $8,100 $6,400 $14,700 194 54 -13% 47% 6% 3/4 7 3 500 78 7
Stewart Cink $8,000 $7,100 $14,100 172 71 -75% -40% 7% 3/3 65 37 53 500 500
Charl Schwartzel $7,900 $8,100 $15,800 21 32 47% 0% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Steve Stricker $7,900 $7,900 $15,600 84 38 29% -9% 0% 1/1 2 500 500 500 500
Daniel Summerhays $7,800 $6,700 $14,300 87 55 -5% 31% 20% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Smylie Kaufman $7,800 $6,400 $14,100 133 78 -68% 0% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chris Kirk $7,700 $6,700 $13,800 105 85 -57% -14% 0% 0/1 500 500 500 500 135
Ben Martin $7,700 $6,100 $13,300 214 91 -62% 11% 3% 1/2 91 500 13 500 500
Ian Poulter $7,600 $7,100 $15,100 83 45 39% 30% 7% 2/2 500 500 6 51 500
Chad Campbell $7,600 $5,600 $13,000 176 118 -87% 20% -8% 5/5 34 8 46 75 3
Graeme McDowell $7,500 $8,000 $14,500 90 60 8% -130% -5% 1/4 118 135 24 500 125
Matt Jones $7,500 $5,700 $12,800 217 128 -84% 2% -2% 2/4 26 3 500 97 106
Russell Knox $7,400 $7,400 $14,600 38 61 7% -47% -19% 2/4 500 8 89 74 125
Sung Kang $7,400 $6,800 $13,400 85 93 -30% -35% -3% 0/2 118 500 500 500 125
Keegan Bradley $7,400 $7,200 $14,300 120 72 -11% -58% -20% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Harold Varner $7,400 $6,200 $13,900 130 68 0% 27% 16% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Patrick Rodgers $7,400 $5,700 $12,900 171 125 -67% 4% -7% 1/1 500 29 500 500 500
Kevin Tway $7,400 $6,900 $14,800 188 54 37% 29% -6% 0/1 500 500 136 500 500
Zac Blair $7,400 $5,700 $12,400 241 148 -96% -13% -4% 2/2 65 58 500 500 500
Scott Stallings $7,400 $5,500 $12,400 285 148 -96% 13% -4% 3/5 41 76 32 2 77
William McGirt $7,300 $7,800 $14,700 52 59 37% -83% -22% 2/4 500 116 32 87 13
Patton Kizzire $7,300 $5,500 $12,300 184 185 -91% -10% -14% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cody Gribble $7,300 $5,200 $12,100 223 185 -89% 13% 3% 0/1 500 500 500 135 500
Vijay Singh $7,300 $5,000 $12,200 247 188 -97% 22% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ricky Barnes $7,300 $5,700 $12,400 275 154 -57% -17% -8% 0/2 500 500 72 130 500
Ernie Els $7,300 $5,500 $11,300 388 273 -183% -62% 5% 0/1 74 500 500 500 500
Brett Stegmaier $7,300 $4,800 $11,500 390 283 -194% -1% -7% 1/1 9 500 500 500 500
John Peterson $7,300 $5,200 $12,100 536 176 -80% 17% 7% 2/2 500 500 19 500 61
Danny Lee $7,200 $7,500 $15,300 96 45 65% 6% -7% 2/2 500 500 32 500 49
Peter Uihlein $7,200 $7,000 $14,700 149 54 63% 27% 11% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Robert Garrigus $7,200 $5,200 $11,700 237 257 -123% -26% -12% 2/3 50 144 500 500 42
Johnson Wagner $7,200 $4,600 $11,200 264 297 -149% 8% -1% 1/3 32 135 142 500 500
Xander Schauffele $7,200 $4,800 $12,900 345 124 -2% 57% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
J.J. Henry $7,200 $5,300 $11,700 398 243 -112% -30% -6% 3/5 109 89 13 51 59
Trey Mullinax $7,200 $4,600 $11,200 401 310 -160% 3% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Shawn Stefani $7,200 $5,100 $12,300 444 167 -40% 29% -2% 3/4 9 96 63 7 500
Jim Furyk $7,100 $6,300 $13,300 80 100 29% -6% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Hudson Swafford $7,100 $5,800 $13,100 81 101 27% 16% 5% 2/3 34 29 117 500 500
Roberto Castro $7,100 $5,000 $11,200 107 295 -108% -19% 0% 3/4 500 40 89 18 27
Bryson DeChambeau $7,100 $5,600 $12,200 144 193 -43% -35% -14% 1/1 500 45 500 500 500
K.J. Choi $7,100 $5,300 $11,400 236 282 -96% -43% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Spencer Levin $7,100 $5,000 $11,700 342 233 -71% 2% -1% 1/2 500 22 500 500 77
Nicholas Lindheim $7,100 $4,600 $10,900 424 340 -135% -3% 2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Richie Schembechler $7,100 $4,500 $10,600 527 -190% -15% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Harris English $7,000 $6,500 $14,200 116 72 47% 0% -15% 3/4 26 45 72 1 500
Brian Stuard $7,000 $5,200 $12,000 145 186 -15% 11% 8% 2/2 73 74 500 500 500
Dominic Bozzelli $7,000 $5,900 $11,900 156 213 -36% -95% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Blayne Barber $7,000 $5,200 $11,900 218 205 -27% 1% 4% 0/2 74 96 500 500 500
Martin Flores $7,000 $4,600 $10,900 259 347 -108% -6% -1% 3/4 500 76 65 47 13
Cameron Percy $7,000 $5,000 $11,600 351 215 -39% 8% 11% 2/3 41 18 500 97 500
Mark Anderson $7,000 $4,600 $11,000 379 340 -103% -3% -1% 0/1 500 500 500 500 77
Davis Love $7,000 $4,700 $10,900 598 367 -119% -17% -6% 3/4 500 89 43 18 3
Cameron Tringale $6,900 $6,000 $13,200 226 107 42% 0% -3% 2/4 141 76 32 51 500
Brandon Hagy $6,900 $5,100 $11,900 276 179 4% 24% 18% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Greg Owen $6,900 $4,800 $11,500 369 252 -40% 8% 2% 3/5 127 2 60 87 11
Joel Dahmen $6,900 $4,900 $11,800 430 215 -22% 16% 2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Campbell $6,900 $4,600 $10,900 440 393 -100% -16% -10% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Hiroshi Iwata $6,900 $4,900 $11,200 455 302 -63% -11% -3% 0/1 91 500 500 500 500
Brad Fritsch $6,900 $4,500 $10,900 515 360 -87% 3% -2% 1/2 500 500 89 56 500
Mark Hubbard $6,900 $4,500 $10,800 586 423 -103% -5% -3% 1/2 153 45 500 500 500
Steven Alker $6,900 $4,500 $10,600 641 453 -107% -8% 2% 1/1 500 22 500 500 500
Steven Bowditch $6,900 $4,500 $10,500 838 713 -130% -19% -3% 3/5 70 22 117 147 68
J.B. Holmes $6,800 $9,100 $14,800 49 55 73% -320% -31% 1/2 500 500 98 500 19
Jamie Lovemark $6,800 $7,000 $14,200 93 55 75% 14% 30% 0/2 500 500 107 500 90
John Huh $6,800 $5,800 $12,600 204 132 36% -11% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
David Hearn $6,800 $5,700 $11,900 240 227 -9% -79% -8% 4/5 41 45 72 18 42
Willy Wilcox $6,800 $5,600 $12,400 365 144 34% 6% 0% 2/3 101 12 19 500 500
Jason Bohn $6,800 $4,700 $11,200 429 313 -48% -4% -8% 3/5 74 29 24 18 90
William Lunde $6,800 $4,700 $11,100 488 323 -51% -5% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tom Hoge $6,800 $5,000 $12,100 508 197 4% 17% -9% 2/2 34 12 500 500 500
Tag Ridings $6,800 $4,800 $11,400 596 253 -23% 7% 4% 1/3 500 132 72 27 500
Oliver Peacock $6,800 $4,500 $10,400 942 -101% -20% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Garrett Osborn $6,800 $4,500 $10,500 556 -95% -16% 0% 0/1 500 121 500 500 500
Scott Brown $6,700 $6,300 $12,900 128 108 55% -18% 5% 2/3 WD 12 500 39 150
Robert Streb $6,700 $5,900 $12,500 174 145 41% -27% -4% 2/2 500 500 46 39 500
JT Poston $6,700 $6,300 $13,000 180 110 53% -21% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bryce Molder $6,700 $5,300 $11,900 267 248 -5% -31% -18% 1/3 500 107 500 113 24
Nick Watney $6,700 $6,800 $13,300 324 103 57% -46% -9% 1/1 500 53 500 500 500
Camilo Villegas $6,700 $5,800 $12,700 329 132 45% -9% 0% 4/5 58 18 11 10 77
Ryan Blaum $6,700 $5,600 $11,600 336 232 2% -59% 7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Julian Etulain $6,700 $5,200 $12,000 436 207 13% -1% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Armour $6,700 $4,600 $11,100 470 320 -31% 1% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Hunter Mahan $6,700 $5,400 $10,900 819 363 -45% -88% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dicky Pride $6,700 $4,500 $10,600 1025 573 -72% -17% -6% 0/5 74 121 136 130 125
John Rollins $6,700 $4,800 $10,800 373 -48% -27% 2% 4/5 34 58 50 6 125
Luke List $6,600 $6,000 $12,800 134 112 58% -8% 7% 1/1 50 500 500 WD 500
Padraig Harrington $6,600 $5,000 $12,400 165 158 44% 37% -10% 3/5 148 107 65 10 13
Alex Cejka $6,600 $5,100 $11,400 213 282 0% -19% -1% 1/1 500 22 500 500 500
Sam Saunders $6,600 $5,500 $12,100 298 192 28% -18% -6% 1/2 34 135 500 500 500
Peter Malnati $6,600 $4,900 $11,200 459 307 -10% -12% -4% 1/2 91 500 19 500 500
Rick Lamb $6,600 $4,500 $10,800 473 427 -37% -6% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Rory Sabbatini $6,600 $4,700 $11,200 541 307 -10% 0% -4% 1/1 500 500 500 7 500
Miguel Angel Carballo $6,600 $4,500 $10,800 567 407 -35% -5% -2% 2/3 52 500 53 500 100
Max Homa $6,600 $4,500 $10,600 603 497 -45% -12% -2% 1/1 500 66 500 500 500
Arjun Atwal $6,600 $4,600 $10,900 966 385 -33% -15% -9% 4/4 52 40 500 66 19
Shane Bertsch $6,600 $4,500 $10,600 530 -49% -16% -5% 1/1 500 500 500 500 49
Braden Thornberry $6,600 $4,600 $10,800 375 -31% -13% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Fabian Gomez $6,500 $5,300 $11,700 150 238 21% -27% -3% 1/3 74 1 500 97 500
Grayson Murray $6,500 $5,600 $12,800 154 128 59% 15% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
D.A. Points $6,500 $5,300 $12,400 210 163 48% 17% -14% 1/2 18 500 WD 135 500
Retief Goosen $6,500 $5,300 $12,300 225 173 45% 11% -5% 2/3 12 76 32 500 500
Michael Thompson $6,500 $5,100 $11,900 230 213 29% 5% -3% 1/3 127 3 98 500 500
Derek Fathauer $6,500 $4,800 $11,000 232 333 -6% -17% 0% 0/2 91 96 500 500 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $6,500 $5,000 $12,000 281 205 33% 16% -1% 2/3 18 29 72 500 500
Ryan Brehm $6,500 $4,800 $11,300 316 287 7% -2% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jonathan Randolph $6,500 $4,900 $12,100 348 170 46% 38% 10% 0/1 500 132 500 500 500
Boo Weekley $6,500 $5,500 $12,400 370 162 49% 7% -12% 5/5 12 8 46 27 27
Chris Stroud $6,500 $5,400 $12,100 372 207 31% -13% -13% 0/1 500 107 500 500 500
Ben Crane $6,500 $5,600 $12,200 461 183 42% -20% -2% 4/4 41 37 1 18 500
Chip Deason $6,500 $4,500 $10,500 645 -37% -19% -2% 0/1 500 500 500 87 500
Bobby Gates $6,500 $4,500 $10,500 577 -36% -18% -1% 0/3 500 500 500 113 135
Sebastian Munoz $6,500 $4,600 $11,400 282 11% 14% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chez Reavie $6,400 $5,700 $12,400 158 139 61% -6% 2% 2/2 500 12 500 27 500
Kelly Kraft $6,400 $5,200 $12,200 177 188 45% 8% -9% 0/2 148 500 500 500 106
Richy Werenski $6,400 $4,500 $10,900 283 360 2% 3% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Whee Kim $6,400 $5,600 $11,700 290 233 31% -61% -1% 2/2 34 45 500 500 500
Andrew Loupe $6,400 $4,500 $10,800 320 453 -9% -8% -5% 0/3 118 116 126 500 500
Seamus Power $6,400 $5,900 $12,300 339 165 54% -44% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tim Wilkinson $6,400 $4,700 $11,700 355 242 29% 18% -5% 2/3 74 45 32 500 500
Curtis Luck $6,400 $5,500 $12,300 391 208 38% -30% -34% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ken Duke $6,400 $5,000 $11,600 403 257 24% -8% -4% 3/4 9 29 500 87 7
Will MacKenzie $6,400 $4,700 $11,100 493 343 4% -11% -7% 1/4 52 76 126 500 119
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano $6,400 $5,000 $11,600 613 250 27% -4% -1% 1/2 500 96 46 500 500
David Duval $6,400 $4,500 $10,400 1067 -23% -21% -1% 0/3 500 107 WD 150 106
Sung Joon Park $6,400 $4,600 $10,600 456 -11% -22% 1% 0/1 500 96 500 500 500
Jordan Russell $6,400 $4,500 $10,600 511 -16% -14% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Matt Every $6,400 $4,500 $10,700 480 -13% -12% -4% 1/1 500 500 3 500 500
Kyle Reifers $6,300 $5,500 $12,000 208 191 50% -16% 4% 0/3 127 121 500 500 90
Troy Merritt $6,300 $5,200 $11,800 291 228 40% -12% -1% 2/3 68 76 2 500 500
Andres Gonzales $6,300 $4,500 $11,500 293 258 31% 24% -2% 1/2 137 500 500 71 500
Chad Collins $6,300 $4,600 $11,100 337 323 18% -1% -3% 2/3 18 45 72 500 500
Stuart Appleby $6,300 $4,500 $11,000 484 350 13% 4% -4% 4/4 62 500 53 39 49
Steve Wheatcroft $6,300 $4,500 $10,900 509 362 11% 2% -4% 1/3 41 121 500 500 77
Zack Sucher $6,300 $4,500 $10,700 584 477 -1% -11% -3% 1/1 500 53 500 500 500
Nicholas Thompson $6,300 $4,500 606 375 8% -2% 1/3 500 139 98 27 500
Brett Drewitt $6,300 $4,500 $10,800 625 437 3% -7% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bobby Wyatt $6,300 $4,500 $10,700 630 467 0% -10% -2% 0/1 74 500 500 500 500
Tyler Aldridge $6,300 $4,500 $10,600 711 510 -3% -13% -3% 0/1 74 500 500 500 500
Carl Pettersson $6,300 $4,600 $11,200 875 312 20% 3% -7% 3/3 70 40 3 500 500
Michael Putnam $6,300 $5,100 $11,400 1186 287 27% -24% -5% 0/1 500 500 98 500 500
Sam Horsfield $6,300 $4,500 $10,900 323 18% 9% 4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bob Estes $6,300 $4,800 $11,100 300 24% -6% 5% 2/2 500 500 500 63 34

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2012 – 2016 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on Twitter – @RG_Notorious