Attention now turns to the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour, with the first round of the St. Jude Championship starting at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday.
Scottie Scheffler is set to go off as favourite for the tournament, where the top 70 in the playoff standings will hope to reach a top-50 spot to gain an invitation to the next stage, the BMW Championship.
The world number one will be followed in the market by recently crowned Open champion Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy, who was fifth at Le Golf National and third in this tournament last year.
- RORY McILROY TO WIN & EACH-WAY
- COREY CONNERS TO WIN & EACH-WAY
- AARON RAI TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Rory Can Build On Strong Olympics
Rory McIlroy squandered the chance to win the US Open in June and missed the cut at the Open, but there have still been encouraging signs that he can get his FedEx Cup playoff campaign off to a winning start.
He bounced back from his Royal Troon disappointment by finishing fifth at the Olympics when representing Ireland and he has posted three top-10 finishes at this week’s Memphis venue, including last year’s third when he closed with a 65 that left him just one shot shy of making the playoff.
McIlroy has won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Shane Lowry and tasted individual success at the Wells Fargo Championship this season, and he looks in a strong position to claim another victory this week.
RORY McILROY TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Conners Can Make His Mark
Canada’s Corey Conners was ninth in Paris when, like McIlroy, he closed with a 66, so he will be hopeful of picking that form straight up when he heads to Tennessee.
He is the sort of consistent tee-to-green operator who should flourish at TPC Southwind and he produced his best finish in seven course efforts when he was tied for sixth last year.
A disappointing 72 on Friday took him out of contention last year, but he responded well with a pair of weekend 65s and he has not finished lower than 30th in his last 10 tournaments, so we should anticipate another strong effort.
COREY CONNERS TO WIN & EACH-WAY
Rai Buzzing After Wyndham Win
Lucas Glover won this tournament having triumphed at the Wyndham Championship the previous week last year, so don’t rule out the chances of Aaron Rai doing exactly the same.
The 29-year-old from Wolverhampton won by two shots last week at the Wyndham Championship and his first PGA Tour triumph came after a few recent close shaves, as he was second at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, seventh at the John Deere Classic as well as fourth at the Scottish Open.
He has not finished higher than 12th in four Southwind efforts, but will never have travelled there in a more confident mood, so there's every chance he can claim another big prize.
AARON RAI TO WIN EACH-WAY
