St. Jude Championship Explained

FedEx St. Jude Championship
Location:Memphis, Tennessee
Establishment:1967
Course:TPC Southwind
Par:70
Tour:PGA Tour
Format:Stroke play
Month Played:August
Aggregate:254 Dustin Johnson (2020)
To-Par:−30 as above
Current Champion: Hideki Matsuyama
Map:USA#USA Tennessee
Map Label:TPC Southwind
Map Relief:yes
Map Size:200
Coordinates:35.057°N -89.779°W

The FedEx St. Jude Championship, founded as the Westchester Classic in 1967, is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been played as the first tournament of the playoff system for the FedEx Cup, with the field limited to the top 70 players on the FedEx Cup points list at the end of the regular season; prior to 2023, the top 125 players were included. For sponsorship reasons, the tournament has previously been titled as The Northern Trust, The Barclays, and the Buick Classic.

The Westchester Classic was hosted at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, New York until 2007, after which it moved around several courses in New York and New Jersey. In 2018, the PGA Tour announced that The Northern Trust, as it was then known, would alternate between the New York/New Jersey and Boston areas from 2019, and in 2020 it was held at TPC Boston.[1] For the 2021–22 season, the tournament was relocated to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee with FedEx as the new title sponsor and the event being titled the FedEx St. Jude Championship.[2]

Many of the world's top players have won the event including Sergio García, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Matt Kuchar, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson and 2018 champion Bryson DeChambeau, who captured a four-stroke victory and became the tournament's youngest winner in the FedEx Cup era. Since the tournament's inception in 1967, The Northern Trust has generated nearly $50 million for New York/New Jersey Metropolitan-area charities, including a record $1.865 million in 2018.[3]

History

The event can trace its origins back to a Westchester based pro-am tournament that began at The Apawamis Club in Rye, New York.[4] Founded by William Mitchell "Bill" Jennings,[5] the popular spectator event drew many top players before leaving Apawamis after 1961 when it was merged into the Thunderbird Classic.[6] It was next played at the Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey (1962, 1966-68) and the neighboring Westchester Country Club (1963-65) also in Rye. Proceeds from the popular event benefited the now defunct United Hospital in Port Chester, New York for many years.Beginning in 1976, the tournament underwent a series of name sponsorships (detailed below), not unlike other PGA Tour stops. The name of the event evolved to the point that, by 1990, it no longer contained the name of its host course or location. However, among golfers on tour and many fans, it was still known by its traditional name, the Westchester Classic.

The tournament was usually played during June of each year, either the week before (in even-numbered years) or the week after (in odd-numbered years) the U.S. Open. It had its greatest attendance in 2001 when Tiger Woods participated, although two days of heavy rains disrupted play. It had one of its more exciting finishes in 2005, when Pádraig Harrington eagled the par-5 final hole with a 65feet putt to win the title. The most frequent winner of the tournament is Vijay Singh, with four trophies.

Beginning in 2008, it left the Westchester Country Club and began being rotated amongst different clubs in the New York metropolitan area (also detailed below).

In 2011, Hurricane Irene shortened the tournament to 54 holes, which was played that year at the Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey. The tournament ended by noontime on Saturday, August 27, allowing ample time for players and spectators to evacuate the golf course.

The tournament has traditionally closed CBS Sports's PGA Tour television schedule, due to the network's commitment to airing SEC and NFL football during the fall months; until 2014, the network also had rights to the U.S. Open tennis tournament, which begins the Monday prior to Labor Day. (The 2019 changes to the PGA Tour calendar, which resulted in The Northern Trust being moved up two weeks due to the PGA Tour's desire to complete the FedEx Cup Playoffs by the end of August, will not affect this tournament ending CBS's golf season, even though the tournament now takes place three weeks before the first week of the college football season.) Jim Nantz, who calls the final two rounds of The Northern Trust on television, is also the lead play-by-play announcer for the NFL on CBS.

In 2017, Chicago-based financial services company Northern Trust replaced Barclays, which had sponsored the tournament since 2005.[7] Northern Trust had previously been the title sponsor of the Los Angeles Open at Riviera for nine years, known as the "Northern Trust Open" from 2008 through 2016.

In 2019, the FedEx Cup Playoffs featured three events, instead of four, and the Playoffs concluded by the end of August. As a result, The Northern Trust was played earlier in August (August 5–11, 2019), followed by the BMW Championship, August 12-18 (70 players); and the Tour Championship August 19–25 (30 players).[8]

Highlights

In 2015, Brian Harman became only the third player in PGA Tour history to record two holes-in-one in the same round.[9]

In 2020, Scottie Scheffler shot a 12-under-par 59 at TPC Boston in the second round.[10]

Winners

PGA Tour (FedEx Cup Playoffs) 2007–
PGA Tour (Regular) 1967–2006
YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upPurse
(US$)
Winner's
share ($)
Venue
FedEx St. Jude Championship
58th263 −17 2 strokes 20,000,000 3,600,000 TPC Southwind, TN
57th265 −15 Playoff 20,000,000 3,600,000 TPC Southwind, TN
56th265 −15 Playoff 15,000,000 2,700,000 TPC Southwind, TN
The Northern Trust
55th264 −20 Playoff 9,500,000 1,710,000 Liberty National, NJ
54th Dustin Johnson (3) 254 −30 11 strokes 9,500,000 1,710,000 TPC Boston, MA
53rd Patrick Reed (2) 268 −16 1 stroke 9,250,000 1,665,000 Liberty National, NJ
52nd266 −18 4 strokes 9,000,000 1,620,000 Ridgewood, NJ
51st Dustin Johnson (2) 267 −13 Playoff 8,750,000 1,575,000 Glen Oaks, NY
The Barclays
50th275 −9 1 stroke 8,500,000 1,530,000 Bethpage Black, NY
49th261 −19 6 strokes 8,250,000 1,485,000 Plainfield, NJ
48th270 −14 2 strokes 8,000,000 1,440,000 Ridgewood, NJ
47th273 −11 1 stroke 8,000,000 1,440,000 Liberty National, NJ
46th274 −10 3 strokes 8,000,000 1,440,000 Bethpage Black, NY
45th194 −19 2 strokes 8,000,000 1,440,000 Plainfield, NJ
44th272 −12 Playoff 7,500,000 1,350,000 Ridgewood, NJ
43rd275 −9 1 stroke 7,500,000 1,350,000 Liberty National, NJ
42nd Vijay Singh (4) 276 −8 Playoff 7,000,000 1,260,000 Ridgewood, NJ
41st268 −16 2 strokes 7,000,000 1,260,000 Westchester, NY
Barclays Classic
40th Vijay Singh (3) 274 −10 2 strokes 5,750,000 1,035,000 Westchester, NY
39th274 −10 1 stroke 5,750,000 1,035,000 Westchester, NY
Buick Classic
38th Sergio García (2) 272 −12 Playoff 5,250,000 945,000 Westchester, NY
37th271 −13 Playoff 5,000,000 900,000 Westchester, NY
36th272 −12 2 strokes 3,500,000 630,000 Westchester, NY
35th Sergio García268 −16 3 strokes 3,500,000 630,000 Westchester, NY
34th Dennis Paulson276 −8 Playoff 3,000,000 540,000 Westchester, NY
33rd Duffy Waldorf276 −8 Playoff 2,500,000 450,000 Westchester, NY
32nd J. P. Hayes201 −12 Playoff 1,800,000 324,000 Westchester, NY
31st Ernie Els (2) 268 −16 2 strokes 1,500,000 270,000 Westchester, NY
30th Ernie Els271 −13 8 strokes 1,200,000 216,000 Westchester, NY
29th Vijay Singh (2) 278 −6 Playoff 1,200,000 216,000 Westchester, NY
28th Lee Janzen268 −16 3 strokes 1,200,000 216,000 Westchester, NY
27th280 −4 Playoff 1,000,000 180,000 Westchester, NY
26th268 −16 8 strokes 1,000,000 180,000 Westchester, NY
25th273 −11 2 strokes 1,000,000 180,000 Westchester, NY
24th269 −15 2 strokes 1,000,000 180,000 Westchester, NY
Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic
23rd277 −7 Playoff 1,000,000 180,000 Westchester, NY
22rd Seve Ballesteros (2) 276 −8 Playoff 700,000 126,000 Westchester, NY
21st276 −8 Playoff 600,000 108,000 Westchester, NY
20th272 −12 1 stroke 600,000 108,000 Westchester, NY
19th275 −9 Playoff 500,000 90,000 Westchester, NY
18th269 −15 5 strokes 500,000 90,000 Westchester, NY
17th276 −8 2 strokes 450,000 81,000 Westchester, NY
16th261 −19 5 strokes 400,000 72,000 Westchester, NY
15th275 −9 1 stroke 400,000 72,000 Westchester, NY
14th273 −11 2 strokes 400,000 72,000 Westchester, NY
13th277 −7 1 stroke 400,000 72,000 Westchester, NY
American Express Westchester Classic
12th274 −10 1 stroke 300,000 60,000 Westchester, NY
11th272 −12 2 strokes 300,000 60,000 Westchester, NY
10th272 −12 3 strokes 300,000 60,000 Westchester, NY
Westchester Classic
9th271 −17 Playoff 250,000 50,000 Westchester, NY
8th269 −19 2 strokes 250,000 50,000 Westchester, NY
7th272 −16 Playoff 250,000 50,000 Westchester, NY
6th Jack Nicklaus (2) 270 −18 3 strokes 250,000 50,000 Westchester, NY
5th270 −18 5 strokes 250,000 50,000 Westchester, NY
4th273 −15 1 stroke 250,000 50,000 Westchester, NY
3rd275 −13 1 stroke 250,000 50,000 Westchester, NY
2nd272 −16 1 stroke 250,000 50,000 Westchester, NY
1st272 −16 1 stroke 250,000 50,000 Westchester, NY
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Multiple winners

Seven men have won the tournament more than once through 2021.

1993, 1995, 2006, 2008

2011, 2017, 2020

1967, 1972

1983, 1988

1996, 1997

2001, 2004

2016, 2019

External links

35.057°N -89.779°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Northern Trust to call New York/New Jersey home in 2019, Boston home in 2020 . PGA Tour . July 10, 2018 . December 20, 2018.
  2. Web site: PGA Tour to relocate first FedEx Cup Playoffs event to TPC Southwind in Memphis . PGA Tour . October 11, 2021 . September 14, 2021.
  3. Web site: The Northern Trust generates $1.865 million for local area charities . PGA Tour . November 12, 2018 . December 20, 2018.
  4. News: The Rye Chronicle. Rye, New York. Repetitious and Wonderful. July 31, 1975. 4.
  5. News: The Citizen Register. Ossining, New York. August 3, 1960. Cribari Says - Bill Jennings $120,000 Dream.
  6. Web site: Apawamis Celebrates 125 Years Of Golf History. Westchester Magazine. Dave Donalson. November 3, 2015. March 12, 2022.
  7. Web site: Northern Trust to sponsor first FedExCup event in 2017 . PGA Tour . January 19, 2016.
  8. Web site: PGA Tour unveils significantly revamped 2018-19 Season schedule . PGA Tour . July 10, 2018 . December 20, 2018.
  9. Web site: Staats . Wayne . These are the only three golfers to make two holes-in-one in same PGA Tour round . PGA of America . October 29, 2018 . February 26, 2019.
  10. Web site: Rookie Scottie Scheffler shoots 59 at Northern Trust, one stroke short of PGA Tour record . Yahoo! . August 21, 2020.
  11. http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-barclays/past-winners.html The Barclays – Winners
  12. http://www.golfobserver.com/new/golfstats.php?style=&tour=PGA&name=&year=&tournament=The+Barclays&in=Search The Barclays – Winners
  13. Book: Sal . Johnson . Dave . Seanor . The USA Today Golfers Encyclopedia . 2009 . . . 978-1-60239-302-8 .
  14. News: Beard Cans Birdie On Final Hole For Title . . . . August 4, 1969 . 8 . August 25, 2010 .
  15. News: 'Loose Moose' Grabs Westchester Win Away From Murphy . . . . August 19, 1968 . 15 . August 25, 2010 .
  16. News: Army Didn't Bug Me — Jack . . . . August 31, 1967 . 22 . August 25, 2010 .