Scottie Scheffler vs. Xander Schauffele.
Professional golf’s modern-day version of “Clash of the Titans” will premiere at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis this week. When play begins Thursday at TPC Southwind, it will feature 70 of the world’s best golfers, including greats like Rory McIlroy, winners of multiple majors like Collin Morikawa, and former champions in Memphis like Will Zalatoris and Justin Thomas.
But Scheffler and Schauffele have been transcendent this season. Scheffler is No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking and No. 1 in the FedEx Cup Playoff standings. Schauffele is No. 2 in both. Two weeks ago, Scheffler won the gold medal for the United States at the Paris Olympics. Three years ago, Schauffele scored the gold for the U.S. in Tokyo.
Three of golf’s four majors in 2024 were won by either Scheffler (the Masters — where Schauffele finished eighth — already the 28-year-old’s second green jacket) or Schauffele (PGA Championship, British Open — Scheffler had top-10 finishes at both). Bryson DeChambeau, who won’t be in Memphis this year because he has aligned himself with LIV Golf, won the other major (the U.S. Open). Schauffele tied for seventh there, while Scheffler tied for 41st.
How about The Players Championship (golf’s so-called fifth major) back in March? Scheffler won that, too. Schauffele tied for second, one stroke behind Scheffler.
Either Scheffler or Schauffele almost certainly will be the favorite to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Neither has been victorious in Memphis before. But they’ve had enough success here — and are having next-level success this season — to instill confidence in even the most hesitant bettor.
Schauffele has made seven starts at TPC Southwind. His best finish came in 2020, when he tied for sixth at the event, then known as the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Scheffler has played Memphis four times, finishing 14th in 2021 and tying for 15th in 2020.
Scottie Scheffler-Xander Schauffele: tale of the tape
- Age: 28 (Scheffler); 30 (Schauffele)
- Height: 6-3 (Scheffler); 5-10 (Schauffele)
- Weight: 200 (Scheffler); 175 (Schauffele)
- Turned pro: 2018 (Scheffler); 2015 (Schauffele)
- PGA Tour wins: 12 (Scheffler); 9 (Schauffele)
- Runner-up finishes: 9 (Scheffler); 14 (Schauffele)
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.