St. Jude Invitational Betting Odds Preview

It could be tough for bettors to pick a winner this week, as most of the top golfers in the world will be at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, for the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

This will be the second time Southwind has hosted the Invitational. It took over as the tournament venue for the first time last year, after it departed Firestone. Last year’s winner was Brooks Koepka. He shot 16 under for a three-stroke victory over Webb Simpson. Koepka has struggled on tour all season and at Bovada Sportsbook he’s a +3300 underdog to repeat this week.

Rahm favored coming off victory at Memorial

The favorite at Bovada this week is world No. 1 Jon Rahm at +900. He posted his first win of the season two weeks ago in the Memorial Tournament. At the last WGC event in February, the Mexico Championship, Rahm tied for third place, three shots behind winner Patrick Reed.

Following Rahm on the odds list at Bovada are Rory McIlroy at +1100 and Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, both at +1200.

McIlroy won the Invitational in 2014 when it was held at Firestone. Since the tour returned from the pandemic-induced hiatus, McIlroy hasn’t been contending, failing to post a top-10 finish in four tournaments.

DeChambeau won the Rocket Mortgage Classic earlier this month but followed that up by missing the cut at the Memorial. Before missing the cut, he had placed at least eighth in every tournament he’d played in since the tour resumed.

Thomas won Invitational in 2018 at Firestone

Thomas won the Invitational at Firestone in 2018. He came up just short at the Workday Charity Open a few weeks ago when he placed second, and he tied for 18th at the Memorial.

Other former winners of the Invitational who will be in this week’s field include Hideki Matsuyama (+2800), Dustin Johnson (+2800), Shane Lowry (+15000) and Keegan Bradley (+15000).

Southwind was also the venue for the St. Jude’s Classic for a few decades before it was removed from the tour in 2018. Johnson, who won the Invitational at Firestone in 2016, won the St. Jude’s Classic twice, in 2012 and 2018. Despite his previous success at Southwind, bettors may not have much trust in Johnson right now. He missed the cut at the Memorial after posting back-to-back 80s in the first two rounds, and last week at the 3M Open he withdrew following the first round due to a back injury.