Dustin Johnson to play FedEx St. Jude Classic
One of the biggest stars in golf is returning to Memphis next week after a one-year hiatus.
The FedEx St. Jude Classic announced Thursday morning that Dustin Johnson has committed to play in this year’s event at TPC Southwind.
Johnson is currently No. 2 in the world golf rankings and he will be the highestranked golfer to participate in the FedEx St. Jude Classic since Lee Westwood played the tournament in 2011 and Rory McIlroy made an appearance in 2012. Both were also ranked No. 2 at the time.
Johnson won the 2012 FedEx St. Jude Classic by out-pacing McIlroy and seven other players that were either leaders or co-leaders in the final round, using birdies at No. 16 and No. 17 on Sunday to claim his sixth-career victory on the PGA Tour.
Following a six-month suspension in 2014 that was reportedly due to multiple failed drug tests, Johnson steadily established himself as a force within the sport.
He has eight PGA Tour wins, including the 2016 U.S. Open, and 28 top-10 finishes over the past three years. Earlier this month, his 64-week run as the No. 1ranked golfer in the world came to an end when Justin Thomas jumped him in the rankings.
Johnson, 33, currently leads the PGA Tour in scoring average, eagles, shots gained off the tee and shots gained from tee-to-green. The 6-foot-4 Charleston, S.C., native is known for his tremendous length off the tee, and he has the longest drive on the PGA Tour this year (430 yards).
But his ascent and lengthy stint atop
the world golf rankings is a testament to the improvements he made around the green, and off the course, in recent years.
This will be Johnson’s sixth appearance at TPC Southwind over the past seven years. He was forced to withdraw with an illness after nine holes in 2015 and finished in fifth place with a score of 9-under par during the 2016 FedEx St. Jude Classic.
Johnson’s absence a year ago was due to the impending birth of his second child with his wife, Paulina Gretzky, the daughter of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky.
“Any time you have a player the caliber of Dustin Johnson join the field this late in the game, it’s a positive all the way around,” FedEx St. Jude Classic tournament director Darrell Smith said. “He’s had great success here at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, winning here in 2012, and he’s been extremely loyal to us ever since he came and played here. I know Memphis and all the fans in Memphis will be extremely excited to have Dustin back in the field.”
Johnson’s commitment means this year’s FedEx St. Jude Classic field will include five of the top 20 golfers in the world and the past two U.S. Open champions. Americans Brooks Koepka (No. 9) and Phil Mickelson (No. 18), as well as Paul Casey of England (No. 12) and Swedish golfer Henrik Stenson (No. 15) are also scheduled to be at TPC Southwind next week.
The FedEx St. Jude Classic begins Monday, with first-round action set to tee off Thursday morning. Two-time defending champion Daniel Berger is one of at least 68 players with at least one PGA Tour victory included in the tournament’s most recent field projections.
Tournament officials announced Wednesday afternoon that American Tony Finau, who is currently ranked No. 35 in the world, had also committed to play in Memphis next week.
Ten golfers with major championship wins on their resume are tentatively scheduled to participate in this year’s event, including John Daly, Retief Goosen and Stewart Cink.
The commitment deadline for the 156-golfer tournament is 4 p.m. CT Friday.
“The field has really panned out to be one of the best we’ve had in recent years and it means a lot to the golf tournament and it means a lot to Memphis,” Smith said.
This is the final time the FedEx St. Jude Classic will be held under this format. Starting next year, Memphis will serve as the host of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind.