Welcome to Crush & Fade, our weekly series where we break down the current PGA Tour event and recap the previous tournament.
The FedEx Cup chase kicks off this week at TPC Southwind in Memphis. The playoffs are now a three-week sprint for big money and big pressure, at least on paper. The format has undergone tweaks, including the removal of the stroke advantage system, but there’s still a long way to go in making this feel like a true playoff that fans care about.
Despite the high stakes, the energy is often lacking. Fields are smaller, many top golfers are still absent due to LIV, and the structure allows top players to skip events without major consequences. That’s not exactly building season-ending momentum. The cut to the Top 50 in FedEx Cup points this week adds some intrigue, but honestly, the most compelling angle right now might be how these next few weeks impact Ryder Cup spots. Let’s hope the golf on the course makes up for everything else off of it.
Wyndham Championship Recap
Cam Young finally broke through with his first-ever PGA Tour win. It’s been a long time coming, and he did it in dominant fashion as he cruised past Mac Meissner by six shots after a second-round 62. Once he took control, there was never really a doubt. Great moment for Cam, but unfortunately not a lot of suspense for fans over the weekend.
FedEx St. Jude Preview
The big headline this week is who’s not playing. Rory McIlroy is sitting out despite being #2 in points, and this serves as a reminder that even with format changes, the structure still has some work to do. When top players can opt out and still move on comfortably, it raises valid questions about how meaningful these events really are. In other sports, playoffs are everything. In golf, they still haven’t figured out the right formula.
That said, TPC Southwind has produced some excellent finishes in recent years. Hideki Matsuyama took the title in 2024 at -17. The course is a 7,288-yard Par 70 that’ll play hot, sticky, and demanding. Drama is on the table if the field brings it.
Sandman Top Bets
TPC Southwind hasn’t favored bombers lately and you don’t have look any further than recent winners like Hideki, Lucas Glover, and Will Zalatoris. The course has seen changes, especially to the greens, which are now slightly larger with new surrounds. It’ll be a short-game and approach accuracy test on firm turf, a profile that fits one guy in particular.
- Scottie Scheffler to WIN (+280)
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Scottie’s the best player on the planet and has 11 straight Top 10s. This course suits his strengths and this very well could be win #5 in 2025. - Matt Fitzpatrick Top 5 (+450)
In great form since the Rocket and owns three Top 6 finishes at TPC Southwind. Sneaky strong play this week. - Harris English Top 10 (+275)
Former winner here and has been consistently hovering around the Top 10 this season. Accuracy + short game = strong formula. - Hideki Matsuyama Top 20 (+115)
Defending champ, great history at Southwind, and trending quietly in the right direction. Too much value to ignore.
CRUSH:
Scottie Scheffler WIN +280
Matt Fitzpatrick Top 5 +450
Harris English Top 10 +275
Hideki Matsuyama Top 20 +115
Fade of the Week
Picking fades can be tough because it’s not a bet you’re placing but a red flag on someone the market might be too high on. This week, that guy is Shane Lowry.
Lowry’s 2025 season started strong, but things have cooled off. He’s struggled over the last month and hasn’t had much success at TPC Southwind recently. With plenty of hype still baked into his odds, I’m staying away.
FADE:
Shane Lowry to WIN +5000
Shane Lowry Top 10 +900
Shane Lowry Top 20 +160
Good luck this week, Sandman Nation! And may all your bets land squarely on the green.
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