The 2024 postseason has arrived, marking the PGA Tour's annual visit to TPC Southwind to light up the FedEx Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive year. The St. Jude Championship, which runs from August 15-18, hosts the top 70 players from the regular season, each vying to secure a spot in upcoming tournaments and vie for a lavish $20 million purse.
High Stakes at TPC Southwind
The stakes are significant at TPC Southwind, which plays to a par of 70 and extends over 7,243 yards. The tournament will prove crucial for many players as the field will be narrowed from 70 to 50 ahead of the BMW Championship. Players who finish inside the top 50 by the end of the week will secure their spots in every PGA Tour signature event for the 2025 season. Among those on the bubble of elimination are Jordan Spieth, Min Woo Lee, Justin Rose, and Nick Taylor, along with Viktor Hovland, currently at No. 57 in the standings.
Hovland's season has been a mix of highs and lows. While he achieved a third-place finish at this year's PGA Championship, his stats on approach and around the green leave much to be desired, ranking 175th out of 176 players. This contrast highlights the kind of volatile season many players face as they strive for consistency on the tour.
Top Contenders and Form
Scottie Scheffler aims for his eighth victory of the year and hopes to enter the Tour Championship with a commanding two-stroke lead for the third straight season. Scheffler, along with Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy, has amassed ten PGA Tour victories in 2024, solidifying their status as key contenders.
The competition remains fierce within the top 20 of the FedEx Cup standings. Golfers like Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala, Sungjae Im, Justin Thomas, and Brian Harman are holding strong, although none of them have yet secured a victory this year. Their consistent play keeps them within striking distance, yet the absence of wins highlights the competitive depth of the roster.
Performance Insights
Xander Schauffele stands out with an impressive streak of top-25 finishes dating back to February's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. However, his performance at TPC Southwind has seen only one top 20 finish, back in 2020. Rory McIlroy, on the other hand, has demonstrated strong form at TPC Southwind with four top-12 finishes in seven appearances, including a T3 finish last year. His recent form is equally impressive, featuring four top-five results in his last six tournaments.
Collin Morikawa has also shown promise at TPC Southwind, securing three top 20s in four appearances, while Patrick Cantlay boasts three consecutive top-25 finishes, with notable top-five results at the U.S. Open and the Travelers Championship. These indicators suggest that experience and form could play critical roles in determining outcomes at this year's St. Jude Championship.
As the FedEx Cup Playoffs begin at TPC Southwind, the stakes are higher than ever. The mix of seasoned veterans and emerging stars promises thrilling competition, while the enormous purse and spots in future tournaments add substantial pressure. With performances that range from steady to spectacular, each player on the leaderboard will battle to make their mark, shaping up what is destined to be an electrifying start to the postseason.