FedEx St. Jude Classic
Dates: June 9th12th, 2011
Course: TPC Southwind Memphis, TN
TV: Golf Channel/CBS
by Evergreen, Golf Handicapper, Predictem.com
Bet the FedEx St. Jude Classic using your credit card at one of the web’s oldest and most trusted sportsbooks: Intertops.
While the big news of today revolves around Tiger Woods pulling out of the U.S. Open due to lingering injury, the PGA readies for the 2011 FedEx St. Jude Classicfrom Memphis. The TPC Southwind welcomes the Tour as they have every year since 1989 and a strong field is in attendance as all are in final preparations for the second Major of the year. Lee Westwood returns to the site of his 2010 playoff victory in hopes of making it back to back wins against a strong contingent of the Tours rising stars plus a mix of fan-favorite vets. Catch all the early action on The Golf Channel with CBS picking up the weekend finish.
The TPC Southwind will provide a pretty good test for those looking to get ready for Congressional as the 7,244 yard, par-70 course is among the toughest in the Tour rotation, ranking as the 11th hardest in 2010 play. Southwind underwent a near complete renovation in 2004 producing a narrow course that demands accuracy off the tee and challenges the players with nearly 100 bunkers and water in play on 10 holes. Westwood was able to card a 7-under round of 63 to open the tournament last year, but was only able to manage 3-under the rest of the way and left the event in question all the way through regulation. Expect the winning score in the 10 to 13-under range and the hot and humid weather that has made its way through the nations midsection could make the greens play very hard and fast.
Each week, we take a look at the golf sportsbooks and highlight a few players that we think can win it all. We give you a short, middle and long odds pick to win and breakdown a couple of head to head matches that you can find at any quality online betting site. Here are our picks for the 2011 FedEx St. Jude Classic with odds and matches courtesy of the board at Bodog.
Short Favorite: Zach Johnson (16 to 1 odds to win)
Zach has had a pretty quiet 2011 season but he has only missed two cuts in twelve starts with both of his top-10 finishes coming in May. Johnson plays the kind of game that succeeds at Southwind, ranking 7th in fairways hit and he relies on his 4th ranked putter to cash in birds. Zach takes a no-mistakes approach that has his scoring average ranked much better than his birdie average and hes exceptional at saving par around the greens with the 11th best scrambling percentage.
Middle of the Road: Brandt Snedeker (28 to 1 odds to win)
The Vanderbilt grad and Nashville native is in line for some big cheers from the gallery and he has run well here in the past with a T5 in 2007. Snedeker has been up and down this year, making the cut in just half of his starts but has been in the top-25 every time he has made the weekend, including a win at the Heritage. Like Johnson, Brandt hits a ton of fairways, has a top-5 putter and is solid around the greens, ranking 23rd in scrambling on the way to the 15th best scoring average.
Longshot: Steve Marino (40 to 1 odds to win)
Marino has come close to winning on two occasions already, finishing T2 at both the Sony and the Palmer and has been in the top-25 in six of his ten made cuts. Steve is solid off the tee, ranking 22nd in total driving and is above average in greens hit. A good ballstriker, Marino can shoot well on any course, but may favor the par-70s as he is 12th on Tour in par-4 performance and scoring. Steve has no real weaknesses in his 25th ranked all around game and should be a factor into the weekend at Southwind.
Head to Head Matches (our pick to win) *listed matches are for entire event, check your favorite online bookie for single round matches and prop bets.
Geoff Ogilvy (-115) v. Ben Crane (-115) (Crane)
The first look at the stat sheet would seem to favor Ogilvy and his better birdie and scoring averages but Crane hits more fairways and greens and that means even more at a course like Southwind. If this were a wide open track, Ogilvy is the better option, but the premium on accuracy and ballstriking favor Crane.
Brian Gay (-120) v. Jonathan Byrd (-110) (Gay)
You just cant pick against the Tour leader in fairways hit at a narrow course that rewards balls in the short grass. Byrd is up and coming but you saw him play out the rough too much last weekend to mount a charge when everyone was scoring well and you may see the same this week. Despite making fewer birdies on average, Gay has the edge here in scoring, mostly coming via the putter.
Good Luck!
