If you've been looking for the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational on the current PGA Tour schedule, you're going to have a hard time finding it. It's gone. Poof. Honestly, the world of professional golf moves so fast with its rebranding and legal drama that it’s easy to lose track of which trophy belongs to which sponsor.
But here’s the thing. The tournament didn't actually vanish into thin air; it just underwent a massive identity crisis.
For years, the World Golf Championships (WGC) represented the pinnacle of the sport outside of the four Majors. They brought together the best players from the PGA Tour, the European Tour (now the DP World Tour), and the Japan Golf Tour. When the FedEx St. Jude Invitational took over the WGC slot in Memphis back in 2019, it felt like the start of a new era for TPC Southwind. Then, the PGA Tour decided to blow up the entire system to fight off LIV Golf.
The Messy History of TPC Southwind and the WGC
The transition from the old St. Jude Classic to the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational was supposed to be a permanent promotion. For decades, the Memphis stop was just a regular tour event, often held the week before the U.S. Open. It was a "blue-collar" tournament—well-loved, but not exactly a heavyweight.
That changed in 2019.
The PGA Tour moved the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational away from Firestone Country Club in Ohio and handed that elite WGC status to Memphis. Suddenly, the field wasn't just "good." It was terrifyingly deep. We’re talking about a limited field of around 65 players with no cut. If you were there, you were earning a massive paycheck and racking up world ranking points.
Brooks Koepka won the inaugural invitational under the WGC banner, firing a 65 on Sunday to beat Rory McIlroy. It was peak Brooks. He looked bored while dismantling one of the hardest courses on tour. The win solidified the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational as a premier destination, but the "WGC" branding was already on life support behind the scenes.
Why the WGC Brand Died
You’ve probably noticed that "WGC" isn't a term people use much anymore. The "World Golf Championships" were a product of the late 90s, an era when the tour wanted to globalize. But as the PGA Tour tightened its grip on the professional game, those co-sanctioned events became administrative nightmares.
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By the time 2022 rolled around, the PGA Tour was ready to consolidate everything under the FedEx Cup umbrella. They needed a massive playoff opener, and Memphis was the perfect spot. Consequently, the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational was rebranded as the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
It went from being a mid-summer "invitational" to the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
The difference? The field size jumped to the top 70 in the points standings, and a "cut" was reintroduced. The "WGC" prefix was officially buried in the backyard.
What It’s Like Playing TPC Southwind
TPC Southwind is a beast. Anyone who tells you otherwise hasn't looked at the water hazard stats.
Since 2003, no course on the PGA Tour has seen more balls splashed into the water than Southwind. We are talking over 6,000 balls lost to the ponds and creeks during tournament play. It’s a par-70 that plays much longer than its scorecard suggests because you can't just "bomb and gouge" your way through it.
- The 11th Hole: Often compared to the 17th at TPC Sawgrass. It’s a short island green that ruins scorecards.
- The 18th Hole: A brutal closing par-4 with water hugging the entire left side. It’s where leads go to die.
- The Heat: Memphis in August is basically the surface of the sun. The humidity is so thick you can practically chew it.
Players like Justin Thomas and Abraham Ancer, who won the final editions under various names, succeeded because of their iron play. You can't faff around with your wedges here. If you miss the green, the grainy Bermuda grass will eat your ball alive.
The Pivot to the FedEx Cup Playoffs
When the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational transitioned into the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the stakes changed. It wasn't just about a $10 million purse or a trophy. It became about survival.
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In the current format, only the top 70 players make it to Memphis. If you don't perform well there, you don't move on to the BMW Championship. If you don't make the BMW, you don't get into the Tour Championship at East Lake. And if you don't get to East Lake, you miss out on the Masters and the other Majors for the following year.
It's high-pressure golf.
Honestly, the "Invitational" era felt a bit more relaxed. Because there was no cut, players knew they were getting four rounds of golf regardless of how they played on Thursday. Now? You shoot a 75 in the first round and you're sweating bullets. Your entire season could be over by Friday afternoon.
Notable Winners and Their Impact
Look at the names on the wall at Southwind.
Abraham Ancer’s win in 2021 was a huge deal. It was his first PGA Tour win, and he did it by taking down Hideki Matsuyama and Sam Burns in a playoff. It was the kind of gritty performance that the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational was known for.
Then you have Will Zalatoris. In 2022, after the name change, he finally got his first win in a dramatic playoff against Sepp Straka. It was a "finally" moment for a guy who had been knocking on the door of majors for years.
These wins aren't just footnotes. They changed the trajectory of these players' careers. The FedEx Cup points awarded at this event are quadrupled compared to regular season events. One good week in Memphis can move a player from 60th in the standings to the top 10.
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The LIV Golf Factor
We can't talk about the evolution of the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational without mentioning the elephant in the room: LIV Golf.
The reason the WGCs were phased out and replaced by "Signature Events" and high-stakes playoff openers was a direct response to the Saudi-backed league. The PGA Tour needed to funnel more money to the top players to keep them from jumping ship.
By turning the Memphis event into a Playoff opener with a massive $20 million purse, the Tour ensured that every big name—Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland—would show up. The "Invitational" model was too loose. The "Playoff" model is mandatory.
How to Watch and Follow the Action Today
If you’re looking to follow the spiritual successor to the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational, you need to tune in during August.
- TV Coverage: Golf Channel handles the early rounds, with NBC taking the weekend afternoon slots.
- Streaming: ESPN+ is the go-to for "Main Feed" and "Featured Groups." If you want to watch every shot from a specific player, this is your only real option.
- The Venue: TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. It remains one of the most consistent venues on the schedule.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Bettors
Whether you're a casual fan or someone looking to place a wager on the next iteration of this event, keep these factors in mind:
- Prioritize Strokes Gained: Approach. This isn't a putting contest. You win at Southwind by hitting your irons to 15 feet and avoiding the water.
- Look for Bermuda Specialists. If a player grew up in the Southern US or Florida, they usually have an advantage on these greens.
- Check the Weather. Afternoon thunderstorms in Memphis are common. A "wave" advantage (morning vs. afternoon starters) can completely shift the leaderboard on Thursday and Friday.
- Don't Ignore "Course History." Some guys just love this place. Even as the name changed from the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational to the Championship, players like Dustin Johnson and Daniel Berger have consistently thrived here.
The WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational might be a name for the history books now, but the tournament's DNA is still very much alive. It’s just gotten bigger, richer, and a lot more stressful for the guys carrying the clubs. The transition from a "world" event to a "playoff" event marks the exact moment the PGA Tour decided to stop being a global cooperative and start being a professional league focused on its own stars.
If you want to understand where pro golf is headed, look at what happened in Memphis. It’s the blueprint for the modern era: elite fields, massive purses, and a total disregard for the traditions of the 1990s.