TPC Southwind, a 7,237-yard, par-70 track designed by Ron Prichard and Fuzzy Zoeller hosts this event for the 31st time, and this year takes place following The Open Championship instead of its usual spot preceding the U.S. Open.
Number 5
Fantasy Insider
Last year Justin Thomas won his 9th PGA Tour title and first World Golf Championships in his 112th career start. Thomas became the fifth player and youngest to win the FedExCup, a major championship, and a WGC in his career. Brooks Koepla holds the number 1 position in both the FedExCup standings and OWGR, and has two top-10s in four starts in this event.
Dustin Johnson is making his 10th start at this event, and has won six WGC titles (second to Tiger Woods' 18 wins). Rory McIlroy enters this week ranked 3rd in both the FedExCup standings and OWGR, and and in each of the last three years the winner of this event was ranked third or better in both categories. Crowd favorite Phil Mickelson is the oldest winner in WGC history, and Matthew Wolff makes his first WGC appearance.
Number 4
How Memphis got a WGC
With the contract between Bridgestone and Firestone Country Club about to expire at the end of the 2018 season, FedEx stepped in and pressured the Tour to give Akron's WGC event to Memphis, where FedEx is headquartered. FedEx pours in millions of dollars into the FedExCup ever year, and Bridgestone's sponsorship budget simply couldn’t compete with that.
TPC Southwind will have big shoes to fill this year, as the South Course at Firestone has always been a player favorite on Tour. Perhaps none more than Tiger Woods, who is not in the field this week, but dominated WGC-Bridgestone with eight victories in 19 starts since 1999. Other marquee players also expressed genuine disappointment when the event left Firestone, including Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler.
Number 3
First Timers Galore
Thirty-three players in the 63 man field have never played TPC Southwind before, seemingly giving a distinct advantage to players like Brooks Koepka (a pair of top-3s in 5 starts here), Dustin Johnson (who holds a 68.3 scoring average on this course), and Rory McIlroy (who tied for seventh in his last start here).
However Justin Thomas is trending in the right direction again after an early season wrist injury. Jon Rahm is also on form coming in with a T11 at The Open, winning the Scottish Open, and finishing T3 at the U.S. Open. And Matthew Wolff has already proven to be a fearless player, with the length and putting to overcome a lack of course knowledge.
Number 2
What’s Needed to Win at TPC Southwind?
Par-4 Scoring and Bogey Avoidance is always the story at TPC Southwind and it will be again this year. If you can finish two or four shots under par each day, you'll be in contention to win on Sunday. Fairways are on the narrow side, but missing them isn’t extremely penal since the rough isn't very tall.
Seven par-4s come in at more than 450-yards and historically play up to a full stroke over par. Most approaches will be in the 150 to 175 yard range, and Greens in Regulation will be key as Southwind's putting surfaces are among the smallest on Tour. Water is the main course protection coming into play on 10 holes.
Number 1
Key Holes to Watch
The par-4, 457-yard 9th hole is a long dogleg to the right that plays slightly downhill. The second shot is played over a lake that fronts the green, and only an ideal drive past a large tree in the fairway will give you an open look into the green.
The par-3, 157-yard 11th hole is a smaller version of the famous 17th at TPC Sawgrass, and requires a short iron over water to the island green protected by a pot bunker in the front. The par-4, 453-yard 18th hole is an excellent finisher, requiring two perfectly executed shots with water in play off the tee and on approach.
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