PGA pros trickle through TPC Southwind

Bryson Dechambeau described the travel logistics as "brutal," but Jim Furyk called it "not so bad."

The chartered jet that roughly half the field in this week's WGC-FEDEX St. Jude Invitational took to Memphis from Northern Ireland on Sunday received mixed reviews Monday.

But as a handful of the world's best trickled through TPC Southwind to begin preparations for this week's event, no one used the word "jarring" – as CBS Sports golf writer Kyle Porter did on Sunday – to describe the overnight transition from the links of Royal Portrush to the humidity of Memphis.

"The ball is going to go a lot further this week," Dechambeau said after a rain shower ended his time on the driving range. "It’ll be nice. I like hitting it

far.”

Monday's shower is expected to be the only precipitation of the week, and temperatures are forecast to top out at 89 degrees during competition days. Temperatures this week are expected to be a few degrees cooler in Akron, Ohio – the previous home of the Wgc-bridgestone Invitational.

But even as Furyk spoke with nostalgia for the event's former site at Firestone Country Club, he called Southwind a "solid course" and talked reverently of Fedex and its inaugural effort hosting a WGC event.

"To have this event in their backyard is special," Furyk said of the local shipping giant that also sponsors the Tour's playoffs.

Furyk played the front nine at Southwind on Monday and found some mud in spots.

Memphis has received more than 2 inches more rain this month than it does in an average July.

But with a clear forecast for the rest of the week, the stage is set for the most important event in the city's golf history.

“I certainly enjoy the test of golf out here," said Dechambeau, who made his PGA Tour debut at the Fedex St. Jude Classic in 2015.

"It’s a very difficult driving golf course and requires precise iron shots. The Bermuda (rough) can be very difficult to control out of. But for me, I enjoy the golf course. It’s a great test of golf and certainly one that I look forward to shooting low on, hopefully.”

The average winning score for the past 10 Fedex St. Jude Classic events at Southwind is 12.7-under par, compared to 13.2-under par for the last decade of the Wgc-bridgestone Invitational at Firestone.

With nearly half the field playing Southwind for the first time, opinions vary on how this week's cast of 64 players will fare.

"Anytime you have to fly across the seas to come play in this, get ready, get acclimated, it’s very difficult," Dechambeau said.

Monday brought the first chance for players to work out any jet lag. Many stayed away from Southwind – presumably to take a day to recuperate after traveling from a windy British Open.

But Furyk, 49, did not seem to mind the flight.

“It was a nice plane," he said. "Plenty of room."

Furyk did note, though, that he was seated next to his 71-year-old caddie Mike Cowan, who is nicknamed "Fluff."

"But other than that," Furyk said, "it was pretty good.”

Reach David Cobb at david.cobb@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @Davidwcobb.