FedEx St. Jude Championship: everything you need to know about the competition
As golf’s postseason gears up, the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship is set to return to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, running from August 6 to August 10. This first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs brings together the top 70 players in the standings, all vying not only for the prestige of a major title but also for the vital points that pave their path to the BMW Championship and ultimately the Tour Championship. With its roots stretching back to 1958, this event has evolved over the decades into a global stage for both sport and charity.
The Contending Players
The tournament, which is officially part of PGA Tours and is the first event in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, has five main contenders for the title to date: Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, and Viktor Hovland. Their respective odds are very close, indicating that there is no real favorite but that the fight will be wide open, as evidenced by the latest PGA Tour odds on the competition, which thus promises to be gripping and full of surprises. So, the 2025 field is packed with amazing talent. Scottie Scheffler, after winning the 2024 FedExCup, arrives in Memphis with impeccable form and a confidence born of dominance. Rory McIlroy, a perennial contender at TPC Southwind, brings a powerful game and aggressive putting into play on challenging bentgrass greens. Jon Rahm combines finesse and mental toughness, consistently threatening late‑round momentum swings. Patrick Cantlay has a history of strong finishes in playoffs and has rebounded into shape this season. Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland round out the list of standouts, both of whom show a combination of accurate driving, sharp ball-striking, and deft short games that play well at Southwind. Each one carries the ambition of not only winning the tournament but also using the result to surge forward in the FedExCup standings.
FedEx St. Jude Championship History and Fans’ Experience
The FedEx St. Jude Championship is much more than a high-stakes tournament: it’s a vibrant celebration of Memphis itself. The tournament traces its origins back to 1958 when it was inaugurated as the Memphis Open at Colonial Country Club in Cordova, before establishing TPC Southwind as its permanent home in 1989. TPC Southwind, a demanding par-70 layout measuring approximately 7,244 yards, challenges golfers with narrow fairways. With 94 bunkers and numerous water hazards, errant shots are often severely punished, making accuracy and precision paramount to success. As the first playoff event, every shot and every putt carries immense weight since only the top 50 players on Sunday night will earn passage to the BMW Championship. That pressure ensures this tournament is both mentally and physically taxing.
Off the course, the spirit of Memphis comes alive. Fans enjoy a rich tapestry of experiences, from shaded fan zones to putting on contests and live music that blend the excitement of sport with local culture, showing the tournament’s commitment to community. It is impossible to ignore the significance behind this competition. Since 1970, when entertainer Danny Thomas linked Memphis golf with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the tournament has raised more than $79 million for a cause that ensures families affected by childhood illness never face a medical bill. Beyond charity, its elevation in 2022 to the first stage of the FedExCup Playoffs cemented its status as one of the most consequential events on the PGA Tour.
The 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship blends playoff intensity, elite golf, local culture and community spirit into a single unforgettable experience. From the precision golf demanded by TPC Southwind to the electric fan atmosphere and meaningful charitable impact, this tournament is a high-stakes start to the season’s climax.
Article Author: Mrs. F. Saccavini, Freelance Writer. Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not to Where2Golf.com, its writers or editors. The author is speaking solely for himself, not for the company or as a formal representative of the company.
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