WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational: Power ranking the top 10 at TPC Southwind
This was a no-doubter. Dustin Johnson long used the FedEx St. Jude Classic as an ATM in preparing for the U.S. Open. Now, he’ll look to replicate that same success at TPC Southwind in August instead of June.
In five starts since 2012 (not counting a 2015 WD), DJ was a winner in 2012 and 2018, finished T-10 in 2013, T-24 in 2014 and fifth in 2016.
"“I really like this golf course. You’ve got to focus really on every shot,” Johnson said in 2018. “You can’t really let up, you’ve got, you know, narrow fairways and you’ve got to hit the fairway or it’s a difficult golf course to play from the rough. So I like it, I just feel like it sets up well for me.”"
Johnson won by six over Andrew Putnam last year with rounds of 67-63-65-66. Nineteen under was the lowest winning score at Southwind since David Toms went 20 deep in 2003.
Johnson only hit 53.07% of his fairways but averaged 66.67% greens in regulation and gained nearly a stroke a round on the greens.
For the season, Johnson is fourth in total strokes gained and top 40 in all categories. He’s still prone to some cold putting weeks, but he’s 29th in strokes gained after finishing 25th last year.
Next. Tiger and Phil make history at the British Open. dark
The South Carolinian thrives at the World Golf Championships. He has six wins including this year at the WGC-Mexico Championship. He’s facing much stiffer competition than the last two times he came to Tennessee, but give me DJ to get it done yet again at the new WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational.