2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Southwind
Lucas Glover has a knack for coming up clutch this time of year.
Last year, he finished T-3rd at the FedEx St. Jude Championship when he needed a high finish to advance to the BMW Championship.
This year, Glover entered last week’s Wyndham Championship needing another high finish to make the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
He entered at No. 112 in the FedEx Cup standings and went on to win the Wyndham. Glover posted 66-64-62-68 at Sedgefield Country Club to outlast Russell Henley and Byeong Hun An by two shots.
The strength of Glover’s game is his ball striking. The 43-year-old led the field in Greensboro in strokes gained approach (9.144) and SG tee-to-green (12.686).
Glover was also tops in driving accuracy (82.14%) and greens in regulation (90.28%). He’s been experimenting with different putting styles over the years, so finishing 15th in SG putting (4.875) is a solid week.
Glover isn’t just in this week’s power rankings due to the win. He was trending toward his first victory in two years with his play this summer.
This was the Clemson grad’s fourth top-six finish in his last five starts. It was too bad he wasn’t in the field at The Open Championship.
Glover finished T-4th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, T-6th at the John Deere Classic, and fifth at the Barbasol Championship.
The competition will step up this week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship compared to the fields he’s been facing. I still like him to play well in this spot.
Glover missed the cut in his debut at TPC Southwind in 2004 before making his next three when this event still had a cut.
His top result was in 2022 when Glover posted 65-68-69-66 to end up three back of Will Zalatoris and Sepp Straka. Zalatoris won in a playoff but will not be back to defend his title due to injury.
"“Last time I played Memphis I played very well, so excited to get back there,” Glover was transcribed by Tee Scripts. “I think it’s one of the more underrated courses on the Tour, nobody ever talks about TPC Southwind. It’s really good, good test. Changed a lot when they went to bermuda greens, but excited to get there whenever that is.”"
Glover ranks first on the PGA Tour in average proximity on approach (33’). He’s second in that stat from the fairway (29’4”) and is 16th in SG per round on approach (.572).