PGA DFS Picks This Week, 8/14: Expert Predictions, Values & Projections
![Lucas Glover winning the 2023 FedEx Cup St. Jude Championship](https://d29m18w01sxjzp.cloudfront.net/thumbnails/source/fatest/Lucas_Glover-1000x600.jpg)
Published: Aug 14, 2024
The FedEx Cup Playoffs are kicking off this weekend with the FedEx St. Jude Championship, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting start to the series and exciting week of PGA DFS picks. Originally known as the Memphis Open, this event has come a long way, especially since 2018 when it became one of the prestigious World Golf Championship events.
Even though the WGC events are no longer around—the last one being the WGC Match Play in March of last year—the FedEx St. Jude Championship still holds a lot of weight. It replaced The Northern Trust a couple of years ago, which had been the traditional opener for the FedEx Cup Playoff Series since it started back in 2007.
FedEx St. Jude Championship 2024: Daily Fantasy Golf Picks & Projections
Before we break down PGA DFS values this week, we first need to outline the tournament. This is the first of three playoff events, and only the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings, determined after last week’s Wyndham Championship, will be teeing it up. The series was trimmed down from four events to three in 2019, and last year they cut the number of players even further.
Just two years ago, 125 players were competing at TPC Southwind, but now we’re down to 70 for the second year in a row. After this weekend, only the top 50 will move on to the BMW Championship at Castle Pines in Colorado. Then, it’s down to the final 30 at East Lake to battle it out for the FedEx Cup.
TPC Southwind: Course Breakdown This Week
TPC Southwind in Memphis has been a staple in the golf world since it opened in 1988, bringing much-needed championship-level golf to the area. Designed by Ron Prichard with input from PGA pros Hubert Green and Fuzzy Zoeller, the course was built to challenge the best while still being fun for weekend golfers.
Green and Zoeller were all about making this course a real test of precision. They added plenty of water hazards along the fairways and greens, making accuracy a must. Despite some complaints about the scorching August heat—expect it to hit the mid-90s—TPC Southwind remains a solid choice for the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
One of the coolest things about this event is its long-standing connection with St. Jude Children’s Hospital. This relationship dates back to 1969 when the St. Jude Classic first kicked off, with all proceeds going to the hospital. The tournament’s upgrade to a playoff event in 2022 was partly to strengthen this bond, and the players are fully behind the cause, knowing it’s all for the kids.
Now, let’s talk about the course. TPC Southwind isn’t for the faint of heart. With water hazards on 11 holes and 75 bunkers, hitting fairways and greens here is a serious challenge. The narrow fairways and tiny, super-fast greens demand precision, especially on approach shots. At 7,200 yards, distance isn’t as important—accuracy off the tee and a sharp approach game are what really count.
In short, if you want to succeed at TPC Southwind, you’ve got to be on top of your game. The same goes for PGA DFS predictions. It’s tough, but the rewards are worth it, both on the leaderboard and in the good it does for St. Jude.
2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship Field: Golf DFS
The PGA Tour’s top players are heading to Memphis this weekend, and the spotlight’s on Scottie Scheffler. After snagging an Olympic gold medal at Le Golf National, Scheffler’s sitting comfortably at the top of the FedExCup standings with a 2,000-point lead over Xander Schauffele. But with 2,000 points on the line this week and next at the BMW Championship, anything can happen.
Viktor Hovland is back to defend his FedExCup title, though he’s starting at 57th in the standings with just one top 10 finish this season. Rory McIlroy, a three-time FedExCup champ, is also in the hunt after a few close calls this year—he’s hungry for another win.
Rookies Ludvig Åberg and Shane Lowry are in great spots to make their first TOUR Championship, while Patrick Cantlay, ranked 11th, is looking for his first victory of the season after just missing out in a playoff at TPC Southwind last year.
Keegan Bradley, with two runner-up finishes, is aiming for a strong playoff run, sitting at No. 39. And don’t forget about the Presidents Cup—players are battling for those final spots, with picks and automatic qualifiers being decided after the TOUR Championship. But now, it's time we hit on this week's PGA DFS picks!
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PGA Best Bets & Predictions: 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship (40-80 Overall, -13.90 Units)
- Tom Kim - Top 10 (+240)
- Billy Horschel - Top 20 (+110)
- Sepp Straka - Top 20 (+140)
- Denny McCarthy - Top 20 (+240)
PGA DFS Picks: FedEx St. Jude Championship
Golf DFS Picks - Top-Priced Golfers: FedEx St. Jude Championship
Scottie Scheffler ($12,400)
Scottie Scheffler heads into the FedEx St. Jude Championship with something to prove. His last two outings at Southwind were nothing to write home about—one missed cut and a T31 finish—but he did snag a solid T14 in 2021.
But here's the thing: Scheffler is all about precision, and right now, nobody’s hitting their spots better than he is. While Southwind’s tight fairways and water hazards can trip up even the best, they play right into Scheffler's strengths.
This season, he’s been dialed in, consistently hitting fairways and greens like a machine. So, even though his track record at Southwind isn’t stellar, don’t count him out of your PGA DFS picks. Scheffler’s accuracy and course management make him a serious threat, and he’s definitely got the skills to turn things around and make a strong run at the title this time around.
Rory McIlory ($11,100)
Rory McIlroy is heading into the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a strong record at TPC Southwind that sets him apart from the competition. While guys like Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are great, McIlroy's history on this course really shines. He grabbed a T3 finish here last season and has landed in the top seven three times in his last six visits.
McIlroy's been on fire lately, too. He’s fresh off a T5 finish at the Olympics and has racked up five top-five finishes in his last eight starts, including a big win at the Wells Fargo Championship in May.
One of the things that makes McIlroy such a threat is his consistency, especially in no-cut events. He’s ranked first in strokes gained per round over the last 50 rounds among this field, which is pretty impressive. With his solid form and strong track record at Southwind, McIlroy is definitely a player to watch this week for PGA DFS predictions.
Collin Morikawa ($10,000)
Collin Morikawa is ready to make a splash at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Even though he had a bit of a downer with a 24th-place finish at the Olympics, his game is looking sharp. He’s had two strong tournaments in a row where his approach shots have really shined, gaining over six strokes each time. It’s clear that his iron play is hitting its peak again.
Morikawa got a solid track record at TPC Southwind, too. He’s finished in the top 15 the last two times he’s played here, and this course is all about accuracy and middle iron shots—right up his alley.
With his game trending in the right direction and Southwind playing to his strengths, this could be the perfect spot for Morikawa to grab his first win of 2024. Keep an eye on him; if he keeps up his great approach play, he might just make a serious run for the title.
Golf DFS Picks - Mid-Priced Golfers: FedEx St. Jude Championship
Tom Kim ($8,900)
Tom Kim is looking to make waves at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He’s coming off a strong showing at the Olympics, where he finished 8th and crushed it with 7.9 strokes gained on approach shots. That kind of precision is exactly what’s needed at TPC Southwind.
Kim has done well at Southwind before, landing in the top 25 in his last two visits. He also has a win under his belt this season at the Wyndham Championship, which is on a similar Bermuda course.
Given his recent form and solid history at this course, Kim is definitely someone to keep an eye on. If he continues to play like he has been, he could make a serious run for the title this week and be a solid play regarding PGA DFS picks.
Adam Scott ($7,700)
Adam Scott is back in the FedEx Cup playoffs this year after missing out last season, and he's looking to make a splash at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He knows how to play TPC Southwind well—he finished fifth here during the playoffs two years ago.
At $7,700, Scott’s odds are pretty enticing, and he’s been solid all season. He’s got top-25 finishes in half of his 16 starts, including a runner-up finish at the Scottish Open and a tie for 10th at the Open Championship in his last two events.
Given his strong history at Southwind and his recent good form, Scott is definitely one to keep an eye on. If he plays like he has been, he could make a serious run for the title this week.
Sepp Straka ($7,400)
Sepp Straka is definitely one to keep an eye on at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He’s leading the Tour in driving accuracy, which is perfect for TPC Southwind. Currently sitting 18th in FedExCup points, he’s pretty much locked in for the TOUR Championship.
Straka has some history here, having lost in the playoffs to Will Zalatoris two years ago. He might not hit it long off the tee, but his accuracy is top-notch, and that’s going to be key this week.
Even though his short game and putting aren’t his strong suits, our model still has him ranked in the top 20. If he keeps his precision game on point and manages the course well, Straka could definitely be in the mix for a strong finish and performance from a PGA DFS predictions standpoint. So, watch out for him as he looks to make a big impact this week!
Golf DFS Picks - Best Values: FedEx St. Jude Championship
Max Greyserman ($6,900)
Max Greyserman is definitely one to keep an eye on for the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Even though this will be his first time at TPC Southwind, his recent play makes him hard to overlook with this week's PGA DFS predictions, especially at his bargain price.
He’s been on a roll, finishing no worse than T31 in his last seven starts. The highlight of his recent run was back-to-back runner-up finishes at the 3M Open and Wyndham Championship. At the Wyndham, he shot a jaw-dropping 10-under 60 in the second round at Sedgefield CC—just one stroke away from the season’s lowest score.
Greyserman has been solid across all aspects of his game in these recent events. Given his current form and how cheap he is, he’s definitely worth a look. Even though he’s new to Southwind, his recent performances suggest he could make a big splash this week.
Ben Griffin ($6,600)
Ben Griffin is definitely someone to keep an eye on for the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He was a big part of our success last week at the Wyndham Championship, where he gained over eight strokes on approach shots and landed a top-10 finish. TPC Southwind, like Sedgefield, really highlights middle iron play and has similar grass types, so Griffin’s game is a great fit for this course.
But it’s not just his approach play that’s catching attention. Griffin is also tops in the field when it comes to putting on Bermudagrass over the past three years. Given his recent strong performance and the way this course lines up with his strengths, he’s one of the better PGA DFS values this week. If he keeps up his great form, Griffin could definitely make a splash at Southwind.
Denny McCarthy ($6,500)
Denny McCarthy is a great choice for the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He’s done well at TPC Southwind, with two top-20 finishes in his three starts here. McCarthy also shines at TPC courses overall, with a couple of top-seven finishes and never finishing worse than T35 in five starts this season.
Looking at his Strokes Gained stats for TPC courses this year, McCarthy is fifth in per-round performance. He’s a whiz with the short game, ranking in the top 12 for both Strokes Gained: Putting and Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green. This skill has led to eight top-30 finishes in 21 starts.
Plus, his salary is $1,000 lower than last year’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, making him a fantastic value for PGA DFS picks this week. If he keeps up his solid form, McCarthy could be a real asset to your lineup this week.
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