Before the best in the world head to Long Island for the U.S. Open, there are plenty of big names getting in some final competitive reps at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Here’s a look at a few marquee, early-round groupings at TPC Southwind, where Daniel Berger is going for three in a row (all times ET):
8:40 a.m. Thursday, 1:40 p.m. Friday: Henrik Stenson, Brooks Koepka, William McGirt
Stenson is making his first trip to Memphis since 2012, and he does so on the heels of a T-13 at the Memorial that served as his fifth straight top-25 finish. Joining him will be Koepka, who finished T-37 at this event the week before winning the U.S. Open last year, and McGirt, who will be looking for just his second top-25 finish since November.
8:50 a.m. Thursday, 1:50 p.m. Friday: Phil Mickelson, Tony Finau, Luke List
Mickelson remains a staple at this event given his penchant for playing the week before a major whenever possible. This time he’ll be joined by Finau, who made the Tour Championship last season and battled through a graphic ankle injury en route to a top-10 finish at the Masters, and List, whose consistent season is highlighted by a playoff loss to Justin Thomas at the Honda Classic.
1:40 p.m. Thursday, 8:40 a.m. Friday: Billy Horschel, Scott Piercy, Charles Howell III
Horschel and Piercy are back on the tee sheet together, just a few weeks after they teamed for a victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Horschel will be in search of his fifth straight top-10 finish in Memphis, while Piercy makes just his second appearance since 2012. Rounding out the group will be Howell, who has six top-25 finishes over his last eight starts.
1:50 p.m. Thursday, 8:50 a.m. Friday: Daniel Berger, Dustin Johnson, Austin Cook
Berger earned his first PGA Tour title at this event back in 2016, and last year he successfully defended his title. Now he has a chance to become the first player to win the same event since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic from 2009-11. Joining him will be Johnson, the 2012 champ and highest-ranked player in the field, and Cook, who won earlier this season and made his PGA Tour debut in Memphis in 2014.
Source: Internet
