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WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational: Power ranking the top 10 at TPC Southwind

By Mike Randleman

MEMPHIS, TN - JUNE 08: Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the 17th tee during the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind on June 8, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - JUNE 08: Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the 17th tee during the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind on June 8, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 19: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the 18th during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 19: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the 18th during the second round of the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 19, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) /

Sure, last week in Northern Ireland was home for Rory McIlroy. But in terms of playing style, this week’s parkland style course fits his aerial attack much better.

McIlroy can get back to playing target golf at TPC Southwind and needn’t worry about internal out of bounds. The pressure was on in a big way at Royal Portrush, but now he can go out and play without the weight of a nation on his shoulders.

Even with that weight, he rallied from a 79 on Thursday at the British Open for a Friday 65. It would have been fun to see what he could have pulled off had he made the cut.

Nonetheless, it gave him more time to prep for a venue he’s seeing for the first time since 2012. McIlroy tied for 29th at the 2010 FedEx St. Jude Classic and was T-7 in 2012.

The 30-year-old is a recent winner at the Canadian Open and followed it with a T-9 at the U.S. Open. He also won the Players Championship as part of one of his best years of his career despite a lack of a top-five in a major.

He’s far and away the leader on Tour in total strokes gained (2.711) and is first in strokes gained tee to green. He’s top 40 in the other main categories and arguably the best driver of the ball out there.

I’d be hesitant to bet the farm on Rory this week just because it’s hard to tell where his head will be at. With that said, I lean optimistically and think he’ll use last week as fuel to perhaps go on to claim his second FedEx Cup title come August.

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