St. Jude Classic

The FedEx St. Jude Classic was a professional golf tournament held in Memphis, Tennessee as a regular event on the PGA Tour. The tournament was held annually from 1958 through 2018, and was played in June at TPC Southwind (since 1989).

FedEx St. Jude Classic
Tournament information
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
Established1958,[1] 64 years ago
Course(s)TPC Southwind[2]
Par70
Length7,244 yards (6,624 m)[3]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$6,600,000
Month playedJune
Final year2018
Tournament record score
Aggregate258 John Cook (1996)
To par−26 as above
Final champion
Dustin Johnson
Location Map
TPC Southwind
Location in the United States
TPC Southwind
Location in Tennessee

In 2019, FedEx took over sponsorship of the WGC Invitational and relocated the tournament to Memphis in late July. The relocated WGC event continues the charitable relationship with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The new name for the relocated event is the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational[4][5] For the 2021–22 season, the WGC Invitational was discontinued, and the first FedEx Cup playoff event was relocated to TPC Southwind with FedEx as the new title sponsor; the event will be named the FedEx St. Jude Championship.[6]

History

The tournament debuted 64 years ago in May 1958 as the Memphis Open and was played annually at Colonial Country Club in Memphis through 1971, then at the club's new home in Cordova through 1988. The late Vernon Bell, a Memphis restaurateur, co-founded the tournament and served as the tournament's general chairman for 22 years.[7] He is also the father of the late Chris Bell.[8]

St. Jude

In 1969, entertainer Danny Thomas (1912–1991) agreed to lend his name to the tournament in exchange for his St. Jude Children's Research Hospital becoming the tournament's charity. Accordingly, the tournament changed its name the next year to the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic.

In 1977, President Gerald Ford, who had left office in January, made a hole-in-one during the tournament's celebrity pro-am while playing with Thomas and Ben Crenshaw.[9][10] Two days later, Al Geiberger shot a PGA Tour record 59 (−13) in the second round with eleven birdies and an eagle.[11][12] He needed a rally on Sunday to win by three strokes at 273 (–15).[13]

Federal Express

In 1986, Memphis-based courier Federal Express became the title sponsor. For the first three years of their sponsorship, FedEx increased the purse one dollar for each package they shipped on the Friday of the tournament.[14][15][16] The purses went from $500,000 to $605,912 in 1986, from $600,000 to $724,043 in 1987, and from $750,000 to $953,842 in 1988.

The Stanford Financial Group took over as the tournament's title sponsor in 2007, and it was renamed Stanford St. Jude Championship. In 2009, the tournament changed its name to St. Jude Classic,[17] following accusations that the Stanford Financial Group was a Ponzi scheme. FedEx returned as title sponsor in 2011.[18]

TPC Southwind

The event's final edition at Colonial Country Club in Cordova was 34 years ago in 1988. It moved to its present location at TPC Southwind in Memphis in 1989.

The purse in 2018 was $6.6 million, with a winner's share of $1.188 million.

Course

TPC Southwind in 2013

Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTotal
Yards4344015541964854454821784573,6324651624064722393955304904533,6127,244
Par445344434354344345443570

Source:[3]

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upPurse ($)Winner's
share ($)
FedEx St. Jude Classic
2018 Dustin Johnson (2)261−196 strokes Andrew Putnam6,600,0001,188,000
2017 Daniel Berger (2)270−101 stroke Kim Meen-whee
Charl Schwartzel
6,400,0001,152,000
2016 Daniel Berger267−133 strokes Brooks Koepka
Phil Mickelson
Steve Stricker
6,200,0001,116,000
2015 Fabián Gómez267−134 strokes Greg Owen6,000,0001,080,000
2014 Ben Crane270–101 stroke Troy Merritt5,800,0001,044,000
2013 Harris English268−122 strokes Phil Mickelson
Scott Stallings
5,700,0001,026,000
2012 Dustin Johnson271−91 stroke John Merrick5,600,0001,008,000
2011 Harrison Frazar267−13Playoff Robert Karlsson5,600,0001,008,000
St. Jude Classic presented by Smith & Nephew
2010 Lee Westwood270−10Playoff Robert Garrigus
Robert Karlsson
5,600,0001,008,000
St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx
2009 Brian Gay262−185 strokes Bryce Molder
David Toms
5,600,0001,008,000
Stanford St. Jude Championship
2008 Justin Leonard (2)276−4Playoff Robert Allenby
Trevor Immelman
6,000,0001,080,000
2007 Woody Austin267−135 strokes Brian Davis6,000,0001,080,000
FedEx St. Jude Classic
2006 Jeff Maggert271−93 strokes Tom Pernice Jr.5,200,000936,000
2005 Justin Leonard266−141 stroke David Toms4,900,000882,000
2004 David Toms (2)268−166 strokes Bob Estes4,700,000846,000
2003 David Toms264−203 strokes Nick Price4,500,000810,000
2002 Len Mattiace266−181 stroke Tim Petrovic3,800,000684,000
2001 Bob Estes267−171 stroke Bernhard Langer3,500,000630,000
2000 Notah Begay III271−131 stroke Chris DiMarco
Bob May
3,000,000540,000
1999 Ted Tryba265−192 strokes Tim Herron
Tom Lehman
2,500,000450,000
1998 Nick Price (2)268−16Playoff Jeff Sluman1,800,000324,000
1997 Greg Norman268−161 stroke Dudley Hart1,500,000270,000
1996 John Cook258−267 strokes John Adams1,350,000243,000
1995 Jim Gallagher Jr.267−171 stroke Jay Delsing
Ken Green
1,250,000225,000
Federal Express St. Jude Classic
1994 Dicky Pride267−17Playoff Gene Sauers
Hal Sutton
1,250,000225,000
1993 Nick Price266−183 strokes Rick Fehr
Jeff Maggert
1,100,000198,000
1992 Jay Haas263−213 strokes Dan Forsman
Robert Gamez
1,100,000198,000
1991 Fred Couples269−153 strokes Rick Fehr1,000,000180,000
1990 Tom Kite269−15Playoff John Cook1,000,000180,000
1989 John Mahaffey272−123 strokes Bob Gilder
Hubert Green
Bernhard Langer
Bob Tway
1,000,000180,000
1988 Jodie Mudd273−151 stroke Peter Jacobsen
Nick Price
953,842171,692
1987 Curtis Strange275−131 stroke Russ Cochran
Mike Donald
Tom Kite
Denis Watson
724,043130,328
1986 Mike Hulbert280−81 stroke Joey Sindelar605,912109,064
St. Jude Memphis Classic
1985 Hal Sutton279−9Playoff David Ogrin500,00090,000
Danny Thomas Memphis Classic
1984 Bob Eastwood280−82 strokes Ralph Landrum
Mark O'Meara
Tim Simpson
500,00090,000
1983 Larry Mize274−141 stroke Chip Beck
Sammy Rachels
Fuzzy Zoeller
400,00072,000
1982 Raymond Floyd271−176 strokes Mike Holland400,00072,000
1981 Jerry Pate274−142 strokes Tom Kite
Bruce Lietzke
300,00054,000
1980 Lee Trevino (3)272−161 stroke Tom Purtzer300,00054,000
1979 Gil Morgan278−10Playoff Larry Nelson300,00054,000
1978 Andy Bean277−11Playoff Lee Trevino250,00050,000
1977 Al Geiberger273−153 strokes Jerry McGee
Gary Player
200,00040,000
1976 Gibby Gilbert273−154 strokes Forrest Fezler
John Lister
Gil Morgan
200,00040,000
1975 Gene Littler270−185 strokes John Mahaffey175,00035,000
1974 Gary Player273−152 strokes Lou Graham
Hubert Green
175,00035,000
1973 Dave Hill (4)283−51 stroke Allen Miller
Lee Trevino
175,00035,000
1972 Lee Trevino (2)281−74 strokes John Mahaffey175,00035,000
1971 Lee Trevino268−124 strokes Lee Elder
Jerry Heard
Hale Irwin
Randy Wolff
175,00035,000
1970 Dave Hill (3)267−131 stroke Frank Beard
Homero Blancas
Bob Charles
150,00030,000
Memphis Open Invitational
1969 Dave Hill (2)265−152 strokes Lee Elder150,00030,000
1968 Bob Lunn268−121 stroke Monty Kaser100,00020,000
1967 Dave Hill272−82 strokes Johnny Pott100,00020,000
1966 Bert Yancey265−155 strokes Gene Littler100,00020,000
1965 Jack Nicklaus271−9Playoff Johnny Pott60,0009,000
1964 Mike Souchak270−101 stroke Billy Casper
Tommy Jacobs
50,0007,500
1963 Tony Lema270−10Playoff Tommy Aaron50,0009,000
1962 Lionel Hebert267−13Playoff Gene Littler
Gary Player
40,0006,400
1961 Cary Middlecoff266−145 strokes Gardner Dickinson
Mike Souchak
30,0004,300
1960 Tommy Bolt273−7Playoff Ben Hogan
Gene Littler
30,0004,300
Memphis Open
1959 Don Whitt272−8Playoff Al Balding
Gary Player
25,0003,500
1958 Billy Maxwell267−131 stroke Cary Middlecoff20,0002,800

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[19][20][16][15][14]

Multiple winners

Seven men have won the St. Jude Classic more than once through 2018.

Tournament highlights

References

  1. A brief history
  2. "Inside the course:TPC Southwind". PGA Tour. June 4, 2012. Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  3. "Course: TPC Southwind". PGA Tour. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  4. "FedEx announced as sponsor of World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational". stjudeclassic.com. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  5. "PGA Tour to move WGC Bridgestone event from Akron to Memphis". Golf.Com. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  6. "PGA Tour to relocate first FedEx Cup Playoffs event to TPC Southwind in Memphis". PGA Tour. September 14, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  7. "Vernon Bell profile". Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  8. Mehr, Bob (December 28, 2008). "Chris Bell's passion for music still rings true". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee.
  9. "Sports briefing: Ford finds ace in the hole". Chicago Tribune. June 9, 1977. p. 1, section 10.
  10. "Sure shot". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. (AP wirephoto). June 9, 1977. p. 4.
  11. "'Incredible' 59 for Geiberger". Chicago Tribune. wire services. June 11, 1977. p. 1, section 2.
  12. "Geiberger fires PGA mark 59, 11 birds, eagle". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 11, 1977. p. 11.
  13. "Geiberger needs rally to win". Chicago Tribune. wire services. June 13, 1977. p. 5, section 6.
  14. "Length bothers Zoeller". Rome News-Tribune. Rome, Georgia. Associated Press. August 28, 1986. p. 5-B. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  15. "Strange, Dillard share St. Jude lead". The Modesto Bee. Modesto, California. August 2, 1987. p. F-3. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  16. "Mudd Leading by Stroke in Bid for First Tour Victory". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. August 7, 1988. p. 8. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  17. "Memphis' 2009 Tour stop renamed St. Jude Classic". PGA Tour. March 19, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  18. Ross, Helen (December 2, 2010). "2011 schedule includes key change during the Playoffs". PGA Tour. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  19. FedEx St. Jude Classic – Winners Archived 2010-05-29 at the Wayback Machine – at www.stjudeclassic.com
  20. FedEx St. Jude Classic – Winners – at www.pgatour.com
  21. Memphis Tourney Won by Maxwell win
  22. Middlecoff Finds Form
  23. Nicklaus Wins 'Jackpot' in Memphis
  24. Yancey Captures Memphis Open Golf
  25. Dave Hill Wins Memphis Open
  26. Dave Hill Memphis Winner
  27. Lee Trevino coasts to Memphis victory
  28. Dave Hill wins Memphis Classic
  29. Happy ending for Geiberger
  30. Trevino outlasts storms for triumph in Memphis
  31. Pate takes million-dollar dive
  32. Hulbert scores one-shot Memphis win
  33. "Fewest number of putts in a round on PGA Tour".
  34. Haas finally ends tourney drought
  35. Cook breezes at St. Jude
  36. Norman nabs first tour win of season
  37. Begay Is Steady At the End
  38. Toms pulls away from crowded leaderboard at St. Jude
  39. Leonard hangs on to win St. Jude Classic
  40. Lee Westwood wins St Jude Classic in Memphis
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