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2021 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Southwind

By Mike Randleman

Jul 27, 2019; Memphis, TN, USA; General view of a tee box marker FedEx Express van on the fourth hole during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Classic golf tournament at TPC Southwind. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 27, 2019; Memphis, TN, USA; General view of a tee box marker FedEx Express van on the fourth hole during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Classic golf tournament at TPC Southwind. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 2, 2020; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Justin Thomas poses with the World Golf Championships trophy after winning the WGC – FedEx St. Jude Invitational golf tournament at TPC Southwind. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 2, 2020; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Justin Thomas poses with the World Golf Championships trophy after winning the WGC – FedEx St. Jude Invitational golf tournament at TPC Southwind. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Justin Thomas has earned more cash in two starts in Memphis than a lot of guys have earned here their whole career.

The Kentuckian felt at home in the state to the south by debuting with three under-par rounds to take T-12th (68-69-66) in 2019. Thomas was just five shots away from a top-five.

JT returned to the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in 2020 and put on a Sunday surge to usurp defending champion, Brooks Koepka.

Thomas carded 66-70-66-65 to win by three shots over Koepka, Tom Lewis, Daniel Berger and Phil Mickelson.

TPC Southwind is a fairly straightforward test of execution. It can often allow for talent to separate itself. JT has no shortage of that.

“This place reminds me a lot of East Lake where if you hit the fairways, it’s not a very hard golf course, it’s all right in front of you, you can make a lot of birdies,” Thomas was quoted by Tee Scripts in 2020, “but if you don’t, you’re grinding.”

JT has been grinding a bit lately out on tour. A glass half full shows five straight made cuts and an upper-half finish at the no-cut Olympics. A glass half empty shows just one top-10 in that span at the Scottish Open on the European Tour.

Thomas has missed just three cuts worldwide in 2021 but is seeking to regain the form that helped him waltz to a win at the Players Championship.

Thomas is a menace at limited field, no-cut events like this week.

The 28-year-old has won two WGC titles, two CJ Cups, two Tournament of Champions, two CIMB Classics and two FedEx Cup Playoffs events.

Since things seem to come in pairs, perhaps Thomas will double dip in Memphis.

JT’s putter is the source of a disappointing season by his standards. Fortunately, that’s the easiest area of the game for good luck to intervene on a short-term or long-term basis.

He’s normally solid with the flat stick to complement elite ball striking. Thomas is sixth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee to green (1.469) and is fifth in SG approach (.853).

Thomas is also 14th in birdie average (4.19) and 41st in sand saves (55.75%).

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