Scheffler Dominates Odds, But Experts Question Straightforward Bet at FedEx St. Jude Championship
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The FedEx St. Jude championship, the first event of the PGA Tour playoffs, is heavily tilted in favor of Scottie scheffler, fresh off his British Open victory and a stellar season. However, despite his commanding position, some analysts are hesitant to place a simple bet on the world’s number one golfer.
Rory McIlroy, already securing his spot in the Tour Championship as the 2025 Masters champion, has opted to bypass the first leg of the playoffs. This absence further solidifies Scheffler’s status as the overwhelming favorite,
Scheffler’s dominance is undeniable. He finished fourth at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Since the Masters,his worst finish has been a T8,punctuated by four victories including the british and PGA Championships.
“Would a win here surprise anyone?” the source questioned rhetorically. “Absolutely not.But golf is unpredictable.”
Schauffele Quietly Building Momentum
While Scheffler has dominated headlines, Xander Schauffele has been steadily regaining his form. Overcoming a rib injury earlier in the year, Schauffele has achieved back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Scottish and British Opens, alongside a T12 at the U.S. Open and a T8 at the Masters. he currently holds the second-highest odds for a reason, having finished T2 at this event last year and T6 in 2020.
Schauffele is already considered a lock for the ryder Cup team and aims to finish the season strongly, building momentum for the upcoming year. He has already secured two major championships in 2024.
Expert picks and Value Bets
Beyond the top two, several intriguing betting opportunities have emerged. Here’s a breakdown of key picks, with odds sourced from FanDuel (as of publication):
- Harris English Top 20 (+100): English has been in remarkable form, finishing as runner-up to Scheffler at the British Open and T4 at the Travelers Championship. His strong approach game and putting prowess align well with the demands of TPC Southwind. He has a history of success at this event, with two previous top-10 finishes.
- Russell Henley Winner Without Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Åberg (+2000): This bet presents significant value, according to one source. “Taking away five strong contenders and seeing Henley’s odds only drop slightly is a steal.” The Georgia Bulldog has consistently placed within the top 10 in his last four events, including two T10s at the U.S. Open and British Open.
- Viktor Hovland Winner Without scottie Scheffler (+2500): A potential hedge against a Scheffler victory, hovland has a strong track record at TPC Southwind, finishing second last year and no worse than T20 in the past three years. His accuracy on approach aligns perfectly with the course’s demands.
- Xander Schauffele (+1600): One analyst is confidently backing schauffele to secure a win before the Ryder Cup. “I’m riding Schauffele through the Tour Championship. he’s rounding into form with a T8 at the Scottish and T7 at the British, showing improvement in his approach and off-the-tee game.” A hedge bet on Schauffele in the winner without Scheffler market at +1200 is also recommended.
“scheffler is in a league of his own, but if there’s one person in this event who won’t blink staring down the World No. 1, it’s X,” the analyst added.
It’s important to remember that odds are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
