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] 63 years ago
Course(s)TPC Southwind
(1989–present)[2]
Par70
Length7,244 yards (6,624 m)[3]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund$6.6 million
Month playedJune
Final year2018
Tournament record score
Aggregate258 John Cook (1996)
To par−26 John Cook (1996)
Final champion
Dustin Johnson
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]

History

The tournament debuted 63 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.[6] He is also the father of the late Chris Bell.[7]

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.[8][9] Two days later, Al Geiberger shot a PGA Tour record 59 (−13) in the second round with eleven birdies and an eagle.[10][11] He needed a rally on Sunday to win by three strokes at 273 (–15).[12]

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.[13][14][15] 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,[16] following accusations that the Stanford Financial Group was a Ponzi scheme. FedEx returned as title sponsor in 2011.[17]

TPC Southwind

The event's final edition at Colonial Country Club in Cordova was 33 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

YearPlayerCountryScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upPurse ($)Winner's
share ($)
FedEx St. Jude Classic
2018Dustin Johnson (2) United States261−196 strokes Andrew Putnam6,600,0001,188,000
2017Daniel Berger (2) United States270−101 stroke Kim Meen-whee
Charl Schwartzel
6,400,0001,152,000
2016Daniel Berger United States267−133 strokes Brooks Koepka
Phil Mickelson
Steve Stricker
6,200,0001,116,000
2015Fabián Gómez Argentina267−134 strokes Greg Owen6,000,0001,080,000
2014Ben Crane United States270–101 stroke Troy Merritt5,800,0001,044,000
2013Harris English United States268−122 strokes Phil Mickelson
Scott Stallings
5,700,0001,026,000
2012Dustin Johnson United States271−91 stroke John Merrick5,600,0001,008,000
2011Harrison Frazar United States267−13Playoff Robert Karlsson5,600,0001,008,000
St. Jude Classic presented by Smith & Nephew
2010Lee Westwood England270−10Playoff Robert Garrigus
Robert Karlsson
5,600,0001,008,000
St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx
2009Brian Gay United States262−185 strokes Bryce Molder
David Toms
5,600,0001,008,000
Stanford St. Jude Championship
2008Justin Leonard (2) United States276−4Playoff Robert Allenby
Trevor Immelman
6,000,0001,080,000
2007Woody Austin United States267−135 strokes Brian Davis6,000,0001,080,000
FedEx St. Jude Classic
2006Jeff Maggert United States271−93 strokes Tom Pernice Jr.5,200,000936,000
2005Justin Leonard United States266−141 stroke David Toms4,900,000882,000
2004David Toms (2) United States268−166 strokes Bob Estes4,700,000846,000
2003David Toms United States264−203 strokes Nick Price4,500,000810,000
2002Len Mattiace United States266−181 stroke Tim Petrovic3,800,000684,000
2001Bob Estes United States267−171 stroke Bernhard Langer3,500,000630,000
2000Notah Begay III United States271−131 stroke Chris DiMarco
Bob May
3,000,000540,000
1999Ted Tryba United States265−192 strokes Tim Herron
Tom Lehman
2,500,000450,000
1998Nick Price (2) Zimbabwe268−16Playoff Jeff Sluman1,800,000324,000
1997Greg Norman Australia268−161 stroke Dudley Hart1,500,000270,000
1996John Cook United States258−267 strokes John Adams1,350,000243,000
1995Jim Gallagher Jr. United States267−171 stroke Jay Delsing
Ken Green
1,250,000225,000
Federal Express St. Jude Classic
1994Dicky Pride United States267−17Playoff Gene Sauers
Hal Sutton
1,250,000225,000
1993Nick Price Zimbabwe266−183 strokes Rick Fehr
Jeff Maggert
1,100,000198,000
1992Jay Haas United States263−213 strokes Dan Forsman
Robert Gamez
1,100,000198,000
1991Fred Couples United States269−153 strokes Rick Fehr1,000,000180,000
1990Tom Kite United States269−15Playoff John Cook1,000,000180,000
1989John Mahaffey United States272−123 strokes Bob Gilder
Hubert Green
Bernhard Langer
Bob Tway
1,000,000180,000
1988Jodie Mudd United States273−151 stroke Peter Jacobsen
Nick Price
953,842[15]171,692
1987Curtis Strange United States275−131 stroke Russ Cochran
Mike Donald
Tom Kite
Denis Watson
724,043[14]130,328
1986Mike Hulbert United States280−81 stroke Joey Sindelar605,912[13]109,064
St. Jude Memphis Classic
1985Hal Sutton United States279−9Playoff David Ogrin500,00090,000
Danny Thomas Memphis Classic
1984Bob Eastwood United States280−82 strokes Ralph Landrum
Mark O'Meara
Tim Simpson
500,00090,000
1983Larry Mize United States274−141 stroke Chip Beck
Sammy Rachels
Fuzzy Zoeller
400,00072,000
1982Raymond Floyd United States271−176 strokes Mike Holland400,00072,000
1981Jerry Pate United States274−142 strokes Tom Kite
Bruce Lietzke
300,00054,000
1980Lee Trevino (3) United States272−161 stroke Tom Purtzer300,00054,000
1979Gil Morgan United States278−10Playoff Larry Nelson300,00054,000
1978Andy Bean United States277−11Playoff Lee Trevino250,00050,000
1977Al Geiberger United States273−153 strokes Jerry McGee
Gary Player
200,00040,000
1976Gibby Gilbert United States273−154 strokes Forrest Fezler
John Lister
Gil Morgan
200,00040,000
1975Gene Littler United States270−185 strokes John Mahaffey175,00035,000
1974Gary Player South Africa273−152 strokes Lou Graham
Hubert Green
175,00035,000
1973Dave Hill (4) United States283−51 stroke Allen Miller
Lee Trevino
175,00035,000
1972Lee Trevino (2) United States281−74 strokes John Mahaffey175,00035,000
1971Lee Trevino United States268−124 strokes Lee Elder
Jerry Heard
Hale Irwin
Randy Wolff
175,00035,000
1970Dave Hill (3) United States267−131 stroke Frank Beard
Homero Blancas
Bob Charles
150,00030,000
Memphis Open Invitational
1969Dave Hill (2) United States265−152 strokes Lee Elder150,00030,000
1968Bob Lunn United States268−121 stroke Monty Kaser100,00020,000
1967Dave Hill United States272−82 strokes Johnny Pott100,00020,000
1966Bert Yancey United States265−155 strokes Gene Littler100,00020,000
1965Jack Nicklaus United States271−9Playoff Johnny Pott60,0009,000
1964Mike Souchak United States270−101 stroke Billy Casper
Tommy Jacobs
50,0007,500
1963Tony Lema United States270−10Playoff Tommy Aaron50,0009,000
1962Lionel Hebert United States267−13Playoff Gene Littler
Gary Player
40,0006,400
1961Cary Middlecoff United States266−145 strokes Gardner Dickinson
Mike Souchak
30,0004,300
1960Tommy Bolt United States273−7Playoff Ben Hogan
Gene Littler
30,0004,300
Memphis Open
1959Don Whitt United States272−8Playoff Al Balding
Gary Player
25,0003,500
1958Billy Maxwell United States267−131 stroke Cary Middlecoff20,0002,800

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Main sources[18][19]

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. "Vernon Bell profile". Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  7. Mehr, Bob (December 28, 2008). "Chris Bell's passion for music still rings true". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee.
  8. "Sports briefing: Ford finds ace in the hole". Chicago Tribune. June 9, 1977. p. 1, section 10.
  9. "Sure shot". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. (AP wirephoto). June 9, 1977. p. 4.
  10. "'Incredible' 59 for Geiberger". Chicago Tribune. wire services. June 11, 1977. p. 1, section 2.
  11. "Geiberger fires PGA mark 59, 11 birds, eagle". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 11, 1977. p. 11.
  12. "Geiberger needs rally to win". Chicago Tribune. wire services. June 13, 1977. p. 5, section 6.
  13. "Length bothers Zoeller". Rome News-Tribune. Rome, Georgia. Associated Press. August 28, 1986. p. 5-B. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  14. "Strange, Dillard share St. Jude lead". The Modesto Bee. Modesto, California. August 2, 1987. p. F-3. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  15. "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.
  16. "Memphis' 2009 Tour stop renamed St. Jude Classic". PGA Tour. March 19, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  17. Ross, Helen (December 2, 2010). "2011 schedule includes key change during the Playoffs". PGA Tour. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  18. FedEx St. Jude Classic – Winners Archived 2010-05-29 at the Wayback Machine – at www.stjudeclassic.com
  19. FedEx St. Jude Classic – Winners – at www.pgatour.com
  20. Memphis Tourney Won by Maxwell win
  21. Middlecoff Finds Form
  22. Nicklaus Wins 'Jackpot' in Memphis
  23. Yancey Captures Memphis Open Golf
  24. Dave Hill Wins Memphis Open
  25. Dave Hill Memphis Winner
  26. Lee Trevino coasts to Memphis victory
  27. Dave Hill wins Memphis Classic
  28. Happy ending for Geiberger
  29. Trevino outlasts storms for triumph in Memphis
  30. Pate takes million-dollar dive
  31. Hulbert scores one-shot Memphis win
  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
  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

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