The 2026 FedExCup Playoffs get underway during the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind. A field of 69 golfers will tee it up in the sweltering Memphis heat, without a cut line enforced. By the end of this first playoff event, only the top 50 in the FedExCup rankings will advance to the BMW Championship.
TPC Southwind will play as a par 70, running just short of 7,300 yards. TifEagle Bermudgrass greens measure just 4,500 square feet on average, adding an extra layer of importance on approach shots this week. Greens run up to 12.5 feet via Stimpmeter, with plenty of water hazards to avoid and three-inch rough.
No surprise, the outright betting market starts with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at +480 odds. There are no starting strokes enforced, meaning this is a stroke-play event. Behind Scheffler sits Rory McIlroy at 15-1, followed by Sam Burns and Xander Schauffele at 20-1.
My 2026 Wyndham Championship Picks & Predictions: Best PGA Bets settled 1-2 last week. The winner was Tom Kim, cashing a Top 20 prop at +160 odds with a strong T5 finish. Johnny Keefer missed the cut as our Top 20 longshot, while Cameron Young carded a meager T61 finish in his title defense, never sniffing a Top 10 Finish.
I’ve got three PGA best bets to lock in before Round 1 of the FedEx St. Jude Championship tees off on Thursday morning. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more free picks and analysis for the first leg of the 2026 FedExCup Playoffs.
2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship Picks: Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Top 20 Finishing Position
It’s been quite a ride for Viktor Hovland in 2026. The Norwegian golfer upset Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the Travelers Championship in late June. He’s recorded three top 20 finishes in his last five events played, including his playoff victory, while missing the cut in the other two outings.
Hovland is well-rested, taking a month off following his missed cut at The Open Championship. He’s fared well at TPC Southwind, recording four top 20 finishes in six trips to Memphis.
Hovland ranks 18th in SG: Approach, 27th in total driving and driving accuracy, as well as 22nd in putts per round this season. It’s why he’s 23rd or better in par-4 scoring and birdie average in 2026.
Lay a small bit of juice and bet on Hovland’s Top 20 Finishing Position prop (incl. Ties) at the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Pick: Viktor Hovland (-125)
Top 20 Finishing Position
Rickie Fowler is riding a bit of a heater, going T15-T18-T8 in three consecutive events entering the playoffs. TPC Southwind has been a strong haven for Fowler, logging four top 10s in 13 trips, including a T6 in 2025.
In 2026, Fowler ranks 34th in SG: Putting. He’s also 32nd in total driving, while sporting top-50 marks for greens in regulation (68.7%), proximity, and driving accuracy. As a result, Fowler is 33rd in scoring average (69.52) and 23rd on par-4 holes.
Let’s back Fowler’s current form and bet on the veteran to cash his Top 20 Finishing Position (incl. Ties) prop at TPC Southwind this weekend.
Pick: Rickie Fowler (+125)
Top 20 Finishing Position
An epic final round performance at the 2026 Rocket Classic led to Michael Thorbjornsen’s first-career PGA Tour win. This victory punched Thorbjornsen’s debut ticket into the FedExCup Playoffs.
Despite being a newcomer to TPC Southwind, there’s a lot to like about the 24-year-old American. He’s secured a pair of top 10 finishes across three previous starts, while ranked 12th in total driving, 16th in proximity, fourth on 200+ yard approach shots, and seventh in scrambling.
Putting is the biggest weakness in Thorbjornsen’s bag. If he can stay precise tee-to-green, Thorbjornsen should be able to wind up with a top 20 finish at plus odds.
Pick: Michael Thorbjornsen (+125)
