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]
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
United States Dustin Johnson
Location Map
TPC Southwind is located in the United States
TPC Southwind
TPC Southwind
Location in the United States
TPC Southwind is located in Tennessee
TPC Southwind
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 65 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 35 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.

Tournament highlights

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

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[39][40][16][15][14]

Multiple winners

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

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. Memphis Tourney Won by Maxwell win
  20. Middlecoff Finds Form
  21. Nicklaus Wins 'Jackpot' in Memphis
  22. Yancey Captures Memphis Open Golf
  23. Dave Hill Wins Memphis Open
  24. Dave Hill Memphis Winner
  25. Lee Trevino coasts to Memphis victory
  26. Dave Hill wins Memphis Classic
  27. Happy ending for Geiberger
  28. Trevino outlasts storms for triumph in Memphis
  29. Pate takes million-dollar dive
  30. Hulbert scores one-shot Memphis win
  31. "Fewest number of putts in a round on PGA Tour".
  32. Haas finally ends tourney drought
  33. Cook breezes at St. Jude
  34. Norman nabs first tour win of season
  35. "Begay Is Steady At the End". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 26, 2000. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
  36. Toms pulls away from crowded leaderboard at St. Jude
  37. Leonard hangs on to win St. Jude Classic
  38. Lee Westwood wins St Jude Classic in Memphis
  39. FedEx St. Jude Classic – Winners Archived 2010-05-29 at the Wayback Machine – at www.stjudeclassic.com
  40. FedEx St. Jude Classic – Winners – at www.pgatour.com
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