St. Jude Invitational Trends

The St Jude Classic was upgraded to a WGC event last year and moved in the calendar but the course is the same. Ranked amongst the hardest (non-major) par-70s on tour, TPC Southwind demands accuracy, with fairways and greens at a premium.

A par 70 course with only two par-5s, the object is to keep the ball in play and in good positions. In 2012, the tournament averaged 2.82 birdies per round, the seventh-lowest all season.

Here are the trends needed to win the St. Jude Classic based on the last 13 champions (excluding Lee Westwood):

Top-60 for adjusted scoring average
A mixture of strong putters (Brian Gay & Justin Leonard) and power hitters (Brooks Koepka & Dustin Johnson) have won in recent years but what ties them together is a good adjusted scoring average. A player can be a demon with the flat stick or get the ball close with approach shots. Either way is valid as long as they fashion a score.

Top-60 for proximity to the hole
On a difficult course there is a premium on quality approach play. The last 13 winners averaged 52nd on tour for approach shot proximity. 

Top-60 on tour for par-4 scoring
With only two par-5s players will have to find birdies elsewhere on the course and that means playing the par-4s well.

Players that fit all three trends:
Abraham Ancer
Carlos Ortiz
Collin Morikawa
Corey Conners
Daniel Berger
Justin Thomas
Sam Burns
Tyrrell Hatton