2021 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Southwind
Dustin Johnson owns TPC Southwind. He particularly feasted on this venue when it hosted the old FedEx St. Jude-Classic.
DJ won in his first start on property in 2012. Rounds of 70-68-67-66 helped him win by one shot.
The South Carolinian has returned to Memphis every year except for 2017. Besides a withdrawal in 2015, Johnson never finished outside the top 25 with a win in 2018 and fifth place in 2016 (66-69-73-63).
Johnson fired a whopping 67-63-65-66 (-19) to win by six shots over second place, 10 over third and 11 over two tied in fourth. This was the largest margin of victory since David Toms won by six in 2004 (-16). It’s the lowest winning score in relation to par since, yet again, Toms won in 2003 (-20).
John Cook holds both tournament records when he posted 26-under to win by seven in 1996.
Fortunately for DJ, neither Toms, Cook, or any of the nearest chasers in his two victories are in Memphis this week.
“It’s always nice to come back here,” Johnson was quoted by Tee Scripts in 2019. “I’ve got good vibes here and I like the golf course. I feel like I know the golf course very well, I know what you have to do to succeed here. So it’s a place where I enjoy coming back to and I look forward to this week.”
Johnson isn’t in top form at the moment. With that said, a missed cut in his last start a couple weeks ago at the 3M Open is the only blemish in the last couple months. He’s begun to pull himself out of an uncharacteristic slump that plagued the first half of the year, with exception to a win in February at the European Tour’s Saudi International.
The 37-year-old notched four straight top-25s prior to Minnesota, including T-10th at the Palmetto Championship and T-8th at The Open. He’s still talented as they come and is liable to earn his 25th PGA Tour win at a moment’s notice.
Johnson ranks 23rd on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained (1.252) led by SG tee to green (1.101). The former Coastal Carolina Chanticleer is eighth in driving distance (312.8).
The time between the major championships and FedEx Cup Playoffs and Ryder Cup can feel like the dog days for a lot of tired players. DJ took off the Olympics as well as the two weeks prior to Royal St. George’s.
I like that to pay off for him at a comfortable venue like TPC Southwind where he’ll contend for his first win on American soil since the 2020 Masters.