July 30th – August 2nd, 2020

TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee

Par: 70 / Yardage: 7,238

Purse: $10.5 million with $1,787,560 to the winner

Defending Champion: Brooks Koepka

Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy top the betting at a  pretty generous 11/1 this week. The Spaniard comes in off a win at Memorial, with Rory without a top-10 since the restart and still searching for that elusive good putting week that will change everything.  All eyes too will be on Bryson DeChambeau at 12/1; can his bomb and gouge method translate into Major form? I avoid the win only market like the plague, at least until after round one. 

The 27 year old is having a terrific season and reaffirming his status as one of the big names on Tour.  Winner of the Charles Schwab after lockdown and T3 at The Heritage among five top-10 finishes in his last six starts. Twice a winner also at TPC Southwind in the old June St Jude Classic slot, this is a huge confluence of good stuff that just cannot be ignored.

Watch this guy, he will contend for a Major again this season.  The superlative ball striker has won already this year in Phoenix and Hilton Head and has the temperament to convert in big events.  Solo second to Koepka on this course in the inaugural WGC St Jude in 2019 (which used to be played at Firestone from 2018 back) and primed to strike for win number three.

Matt is quietly going about his business on the PGA Tour this year. Now 20th in the world and impressed me greatly in his solo third at a very difficult Memorial last time out where he posted a stats clip against the field of T4 driving, T14 irons and T9 putting.  Simply put that shows consistency across all key parts of his game and points to another big chance on a course where he finished T4 last year.

Frankly I would have expected better odds than 20/1 on Patrick Cantlay this week but I’m guessing the bookies see the same potential in him as I do.  T7 at the Workday Charity Open after a Sunday 65 then T32 at The Memorial after a Sunday 79 shows how easily things can get away from you in golf. Aged 28 now and primed to realise his potential over the next couple of weeks.

Posted some fantastic pics of his vacation hiking in Colorado and hopefully he’ll bring some of that freshness and joy of life to his game in Memphis this week.  Recovered from a first round 76 to post a very respectable T13 at Memorial last time out with a T7 the week before.  Loves this course too with five top-10 finishes since 2013.  If it comes down to battle Billy is your guy!

Chez Reavie 125/1:  Contended through three rounds at The Memorial before a 79 Sunday.  T4 in 2017 and T6 in 2018 at the old St Jude Classic.

Cam Smith 225/1: Played a big part in this event in 2019 but out of sorts of late.