This week, the PGA Tour returns to one of it’s long-time stops — Memphis, Tennessee for the FedEx St. Jude Classic. Last year, Ben Crane went wire-to-wire to win his fifth PGA Tour event. An impressive performance for sure, but at a tournament that dates back to 1958, it’s just one of many.
The tour’s annual trip to Tennessee has seen its share of winners and great performances. From first-time winners to record setters, the searsucker jacket has been draped on the shoulders of 50 different players, all of whom have a story. Here are some of the most memorable on Flashback Friday:
Phil Mickelson’s Ridiculous Flop – We’ve all known for a long time that Phil Mickelson is a master around the greens. Some artists work in oils, Mickelson works in wedge shots. No player on tour is more fun to watch when it comes to getting out of trouble than Lefty, and at the 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic, Mickelson gave us a flop shot for the ages. Don’t remember? Check it out:
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Now, I’m not sure I agree with the announcer that given 20 balls from there that Lefty wouldn’t get one closer, but in the heat of the moment, that flop shot was next to impossible to pull off. But, that’s why we all love Phil.
Al Geiberger Shoots 59 – One of the most historic rounds in PGA Tour history took place at the FedEx St. Jude Classic all the way back in 1977. On Friday, June 10 at the then-Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, Al Geiberger became the first player to shoot 59 in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. Geiberger begane the day on the 10th hole at Colonial Country Club with a birdie and the route was on. Geiberger finished the day with one eagle and 11 birdies in a bogey-free round. On the strength of that round, Geiberger went on to beat Gary Player and Jake McGee by two shots and claim his 10th PGA Tour victory.
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After Geiberger’s historic round, it took 14 years for someone else to shoot 59. Now there are six members of the “59 Club” on the PGA Tour. Chip Beck, David Duval, Paul Goydos, Stuart Appleby and Jim Furyk have all joined Mr. 59 in the fraternity.
Lee Trevino, David Toms Go Back-to-Back – Since the tournament began in 1958, there have been 49 different winners. Four men have won multiple times but only two — Lee Trevino and David Toms — have successfully defended a title at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
At the height of his powers, Lee Trevino won back-to-back titles in Memphis in 1971 and 1972. His first win came in the form of a four-shot route over the likes of Hale Irwin, Randy Wolff, Jerry Heard and Lee Elder. In 1972, Trevino matched that margin of victory when he bested John Mahaffey for the 12th win of his PGA Tour career.
After Trevino accomplished the feat in 1972, it took 31 years for anyone to match it. In 2003, David Toms collected his ninth PGA Tour win with a 3-shot victory over two-time FedEx St. Jude Classic champion Nick Price. The following year, it was Toms again — this time by six shots — who was victorious in Memphis. Toms would go on to win three more times on the PGA Tour, with his final triumph coming in 2011 at Colonial.
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