2011 FedEx St. Jude Classic Predictions
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
Last week Steve Stricker was able to hold off Matt Kuchar and Brandt Jobe for his first win of the 2011 season at the Memorial Tournament. While Stricker will take this week off after his win, the PGA TOUR will head to Memphis, Tennessee for the 2011 FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind. The tournament will get started with first round action on Thursday, May 9th, and a will conclude on Sunday, May 12th.
This is the final stop before the 2011 US Open, so we won’t see a lot of the big names in the field this week, as many players take the week off to mentally and physically prepare themselves for the challenge that awaits them at Congressional Country Club. There are still plenty of solid players in the field this week, including Lee Westwood, who won this event last year.
The key to scoring low at TPC Southwind is getting on the green in regulation. This course ranked third in that category a year ago. You also have to have a good short game to play well on this course, as you have to be able to make your pars when you miss the green.
If you are thinking about placing a wager on the event this week, here is a look at three golfers that I feel have a great shot at finishing the weekend with the trophy.
David Toms (+1000) – While Westwood comes in as the overall favorite to win this event at +600, my favorite to win this week is David Toms. He won his last start on the PGA TOUR, at the Crowne Plaza Invitational and nearly won the previous week at the Players Championship. Toms has also really played well at TPC Southwind. He won here in back-to-back starts in 2003 and 2004 and has finished in the top 10 seven times in his last nine starts. He is currently 3rd on tour in driving accuracy, 2nd in greens in regulation, and 12th in putting.
Jonathan Byrd (+2000) - Byrd had a disappointing finish at the Memorial last week with a 73 on Sunday to push him back into a tie for 7th, but we think that will only fuel him to an even better finish this week. Byrd won earlier this year at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and has four top 10 finishes on the season. What makes him a strong play this weekend is the fact that he is 18th in greens in regulation and 19th in putting.
Boo Weekley (+12500) – I am going with a big time sleeper this week in Boo Weekly. Not only does Weekly have a ton of value at +12500, but he has the game to do well at this event. He has made the cut in two of his last three starts at this tournament, including a tie for 4th in 2009. He is currently 4th in greens in regulation this season and if he can get the putter rolling he will be right in the thick of things come the final round on Sunday.
Be sure to stop back each week for our PGA TOUR predictions.
Complete St. Jude Classic Odds
| Lee Westwood | +600 |
| David Toms | +1000 |
| Brian Gay | +1800 |
| Jonathan Byrd | +2000 |
| Sergio Garcia | +2000 |
| Webb Simpson | +3000 |
| Brandt Snedeker | +3000 |
| J.B. Holmes | +3000 |
| John Senden | +3000 |
| Robert Allenby | +3500 |
| Robert Karlsson | +3500 |
| Ben Crane | +3500 |
| Geoff Ogilvy | +3500 |
| Steve Marino | +3500 |
| Retief Goosen | +3500 |
| Padraig Harrington | +3500 |
| Fredrik Jacobson | +4500 |
| Scott Verplank | +4500 |
| Charles Howell | +5500 |
| Brian Davis | +5500 |
| Ye Yang | +6000 |
| Chris Couch | +6000 |
| Anthony Kim | +6500 |
| Carl Pettersson | +7000 |
| Ben Curtis | +7500 |
| Spencer Levin | +7500 |
| Robert Garrigus | +7500 |
| Heath Slocum | +7500 |
| John Rollins | +7500 |
| Camilo Villegas | +7500 |
| Ryuji Imada | +8000 |
| Brendon De Jonge | +8000 |
| DJ Trahan | +9000 |
| Chad Campbell | +9000 |
| Bryce Molder | +9000 |
| Rod Pampling | +9000 |
| Keegan Bradley | +9000 |
| Johnson Wagner | +10000 |
| Greg Chalmers | +10000 |
| Joe Ogilvie | +10000 |
| Kevin Stadler | +10000 |
| Boo Weekley | +12500 |
| George McNeill | +12500 |
| Shaun Micheel | +12500 |
| Chris DiMarco | +12500 |
| James Driscoll | +12500 |
| Troy Matteson | +12500 |
| Stuart Appleby | +12500 |
| Nick O’ Hern | +12500 |
| Scott Piercy | +12500 |
| Jerry Kelly | +12500 |
| Billy Mayfair | +12500 |
| Stephen Ames | +12500 |
| Jhonattan Vegas | +12500 |
| Chris Stroud | +12500 |
| Brendan Steele | +12500 |
| Woody Austin | +15000 |
| Nathan Green | +15000 |
| John Mallinger | +15000 |
More Resources:
- Chicago Duffer – likes Toms this week as well.
More Golf Predictions
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