FedEx St Jude Championship 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

And just like that, the regular PGA Tour season is over. 

Those who finished between 71st and 100th in the FedEx Cup standings can relax in the knowledge that their playing privileges are safe for another year while regretting that they miss out on the lucrative playoffs. The extremely lucrative playoffs!

They kick off at the FedEx St Jude Championship at TPC Southwind, where the top 70 are in action. They will be whittled down to the top 50, who head to the BMW Championship at Caves Valley, after which Keegan Bradley will finalise his Ryder Cup team. And then the top 30 go in search of much gold at the Tour Championship.

But these next two weeks are really about the Ryder Cup, and who can secure their berths for Bethpage Black in September. It means that this is a very good time to be in peak form - just ask Chris Gotterup.

A month ago he was more or less unheard of. He crossed the Atlantic to play in the Scottish Open - a bold move when you consider that he had no place in the field for The Open the following week. He produced a sensational display of links golf to beat a world-class field, thus securing his berth at Royal Portrush. And lo and behold, he only went and finished third.

Gotterup could have been forgiven for putting his feet up. Not a bit of it. Instead, he boarded a plane home and headed for the 3M Open, where he finished in a tie for 10th.

In a period of barely 14 days he had rocketed up the standings and all but secured his place in the Tour Championship - and has most definitely forced himself into the Ryder Cup debate. There is little doubt that he would be a huge asset to the US team, still smarting from the thrashing they received in Rome two years ago.

So who has most to gain - and lose - at TPC Southwind? 

Most eyes will be on Bradley. He is ranked seventh in the world but 10th in the Ryder Cup standings. Ahead of him are Collin Morikawa, Harris English and Justin Thomas. On current form, would you choose any of them ahead of Bradley? I wouldn’t.

Maverick McNealey (11th), Brian Harman (12th), Andrew Novak (13th), Patrick Cantlay (14th) and Sam Burns (16th) need a big performance this week or next but will surely take inspiration from Cameron Young’s (15th) victory at the Wyndham Championship as proof of how quickly things can change. Young was 19th in the standings but has surely now locked in his place in the team. 

Bradley is, of course, very much his own man and it would surprise nobody if he were to make a left-field selection or two. Harman has played himself back into the picture with another fine performance at The Open, proving once again that he is a player for the big occasion - and it doesn’t get much bigger than the Ryder Cup.

There is a clamour among some for him to pick LIV’s Patrick Reed. That won’t happen, but he will surely be keeping a close eye on the likes of Tony Finau and Akshay Bhatia. And having already said that Bryson DeChambeau will play come what may, Bradley may also be keeping in touch with Brooks Koepka, who has had a poor year by his own high standards.

Twelve months ago Japan's Hideki Matsuyama gave up a five-shot overnight lead before recovering to win.

The former Masters champion still had a healthy lead on the front nine before his challenge seemed to be slipping away as he lost four shots on a four-hole stretch, which included a disappointing tee shot into water on the 14th.

Matsuyama's wobble allowed Viktor Hovland to move in front before he regained his composure on the 17th with a 26-foot putt to retake the lead by one shot with one hole to play.

An excellent second shot on the par-four 18th found the green before a putt for birdie secured the title by two at the opening leg of the PGA Tour's season-ending playoffs.

American world number one Scottie Scheffler finished fourth on 14 under last year and the Open champion is clearly the man to beat once again. He has four wins to his credit in 2025, including two majors and leads every ranking by a country mile. But Rory McIlroy looked more like his old self at Royal Portrush and I expect him to have a big say in the final destination of the 2025 FedEx Cup, although he has made life difficult for himself by opting to sit it out this week. He has already won it three times, more than any other player.

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2015 by Jason Day, in 2016 and 2019 by Patrick Reed, in 2017 and 2020 by Dustin Johnson, in 2018 by Bryson DeChambeau, in 2021 by Tony Finau, in 2022 by Will Zalatoris, in 2023 by Lucas Glover and last year by Hideki Matsuyama.

The Course:

TPC Southward was redesigned by Ron Prichard. It is a par 70 measuring 7,244 yards. It features undulating fairways and a heap of water hazards that have to be avoided.

Form Guide:

It is difficult to look beyond Scottie Scheffler, who is enjoying another incredible season, and is the 11/4 favourite on Betway, but I have a feeling that Austria’s Sepp Straka (28/1) has a game that is made for this course.

Prize Money:

Total prize money is $20m, with the winner collecting $3.6m and 2,000 FedEx Cup points.

How to Watch:

Thursday, August 7, Sky Sports Golf, 6pm; Friday, August 8, Sky Sports Golf, 6pm; Saturday, August 9, Sky Sports Golf, 6pm; Sunday, August 10, Sky Sports Golf, 6pm.

To Win:

Scottie Scheffler. Obviously the man to beat (11/4)

Each Way:

Sepp Straka. Hugely underrated (28/1)

Each Way:

Keegan Bradley. A big week for the Ryder Cup captain (40/1)

Five to Follow:

Scottie Scheffler. Another sensational season (11/4)

Sepp Straka. Having a wonderful season (28/1)

Keegan Bradley. Feisty character (40/1)

Chris Gotterup. On fire right now (40/1)

Tommy Fleetwood. Looking to make a statement (22/1)

Top 10 Favourites on Betway

1. Scottie Scheffler (11/4)

2. Xander Schauffele (16/1)

3. Justin Thomas (22/1)

4. Matt Fitzpatrick (22/1)

5. Tommy Fleetwood (22/1)

6. Ludvig Aberg (25/1)

7. Russell Henley (25/1)

8. Viktor Hovland (25/1)

9. Collin Morikawa (28/1)

10. Hideki Matsuyama (28/1)

This FedEx St Jude Championship preview article was written in collaboration with Betway