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2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational: Top 10 power rankings

By Mike Randleman

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - JULY 27: General view of the 18th hole during the third round of the World Golf Championship-FedEx St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind on July 27, 2019 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - JULY 27: General view of the 18th hole during the third round of the World Golf Championship-FedEx St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind on July 27, 2019 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – JULY 28: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the World Golf Championship-FedEx St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind on July 28, 2019 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – JULY 28: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the World Golf Championship-FedEx St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind on July 28, 2019 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

What’s the deal with Rory? His obvious talent paired with course history at TPC Southwind helps him get into my top 10 again this week, but I harbor some doubts.

To his credit, the 31-year-old has made all four cuts since golf resumed in June. He’s finished no worse than T-41st, but does not have a top 10.

A T-11th at the Travelers Championship was his best result. Some of the courses we’ve seen in recent weeks aren’t suited to a proficient long driver like McIlroy, but Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, etc. have found ways to win in spite of the setup.

The 13-week hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic seems to have stalled the Northern Irishman’s momentum from a season that was on pace for perhaps a second straight Player of the Year. He won in the fall at the WGC-HSBC Champions, which was part of a streak of seven top-fives worldwide from October to March.

It’s hard to imagine the four-time major champion struggling for long. TPC Southwind could be a good place to get it going again.

While he did flounder in the final round last year with a 71, he still took T-4th (69-67-62-71) for his second straight top-10 (T-7th) at this venue and third top-30 in three starts. A Saturday 62 tied for low round of the tournament and was one shy of the course record.

Part of his recent struggles has been on the greens. McIlroy doesn’t always do well on shaky surfaces, but he commented last year how he felt comfortable on the smooth, fast Bermuda greens at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

McIlroy has the lowest scoring average on Tour (68.899). He still is about as safe as a DFS bet as there is. He ranks third on Tour in strokes gained off the tee (1.667) and first in eagles per hole (1:60).

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