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Olympic Feel Infuses with St. Jude Classic in Memphis

By Christian Paszko

USA's Xander Schauffele (R) and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (L) look on before they tee off from the 5th tee in round 4 of the mens golf individual stroke play during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe on August 1, 2021. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)
USA's Xander Schauffele (R) and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (L) look on before they tee off from the 5th tee in round 4 of the mens golf individual stroke play during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe on August 1, 2021. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images) /
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We’re less than one week removed from a thrilling Olympic golf competition, as the PGA Tour visits Memphis, Tennessee for the World Golf Championships-St. Jude Classic. The Olympic spirit is still in the air as multiple players have made the trek from Tokyo back to the states.

Most notably, gold medalist for Men’s Individual Stroke Play, Xander Schauffele is in the field. Schauffele just arrived at TPC Southwind, and of course, was sporting his fresh, brand new Olympic gold medal around his neck.

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We’ll see how last week’s experience in the Olympic Village effects the players that came back on short notice. Jet lag could be a factor this week.

To be honest, I’m a little surprised that Paul Casey is playing this week in Memphis, considering how much fun he was having in Tokyo. He had talked about how every time an athlete from Great Britain walked in with a medal, all of the other athletes would applaud them as they walked by.

I really wonder if Paul Casey would’ve won that 7-man playoff for the bronze medal, he would even be playing the St. Jude Classic this week. I have a feeling that he would enjoy the fruits of his labor a bit more and stay in the village. In no way could I have blamed him if he did.

A lot of players are coming off of really good showings in Japan. Schauffele and Casey obviously, Shane Lowry was good for three days, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Thomas, and Patrick Reed closed out the competition with solid Sundays. Of course, Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, and Collin Morikawa were also in that massive bronze medal playoff.

There were plenty of good things for a lot of players to take away from the trip across the Pacific. Now the question is, can they get it to translate back to the PGA Tour?

Olympic Golf: Winners and Losers from Japan. dark. Next

This weekend will be a good test for that, and with the Ryder Cup lurking, US and European players are going to look to build momentum for next month’s clash.

There’s no doubt that many would consider the Olympic tournament to be a big success, given the drama and star power that rose to the top. However, now, it’s time to get to our regularly scheduled programming as week enter the home stretch on this PGA Tour and FedEx Cup season.

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