Now known as the Fedex St. Jude, The St. Jude Classic has been played annually in the Memphis, Tennessee area since 1958. Originally called the Memphis Open, and then the Memphis Invitational, it changed its name starting in 1970 to the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic. As a condition for lending his name to the tournament, the Memphis organizers agreed to make the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital its principal charity. Although it no longer bears Thomas’ name, the tournament continues to support the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Danny Thomas (shown at left) was a popular nightclub entertainer and television star from the 1950s and 1960s, who is perhaps best known for his television sitcom “Make Room For Daddy”, aka “The Danny Thomas Show.” He is the father of actress Marlo Thomas.
In 1962, Thomas had founded the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The facility is world renowned for its treatment of childhood cancers. The facility’s founding was the result of a vow Thomas had made as a young actor—that if he found success he would open a hospital dedicated to S.t Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes. It’s a moving story:
More than 70 years ago, Danny Thomas, then a struggling young entertainer with a baby on the way, visited a Detroit church and was so moved during the Mass, he placed his last $7 in the collection box. When he realized what he’d done, Danny Thomas prayed for a way to pay the looming hospital bills. The next day, he was offered a small part that would pay 10 times the amount he’d given to the church. Danny Thomas had experienced the power of prayer.
Two years later, Danny Thomas had achieved moderate acting success in Detroit, but he was struggling to take his career to the next level. Once again, he turned to the church. Praying to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, Danny Thomas asked the saint to “help me find my way in life, and I will build you a shrine.”
His career took a turn for the better, and soon he moved his family to Chicago to pursue career offers. A few years later, at another turning point in his life, Danny Thomas visited a church and remembered his pledge to St. Jude. Again he prayed to St. Jude and repeated his pledge to build a shrine to the saint if he would show him the way.
In the years that followed, Danny Thomas’ career flourished through films and television, and he became an internationally known entertainer. He remembered his pledge to build a shrine to St. Jude.
Memphis based FedEx was the tournament’s name sponsor from 1986 – 2005, before turning it over to Stanford Financial Group. Stanford ran into some financial and legal difficulties, however, and in 2009, FedEx stepped up again. This year, it’s the St. Jude Classic presented by Smith and Nephew.
The tournament originally was played at the Colonial Country Club in Memphis, then at a club in Cordova, Tennessee until 1989. It has been played at the TPC Southwind since 1989.
TPC Southwinds is a par 70 measuring 7,244 yards. The PGA Tour ranks it 20 out of 51 in difficulty. According to the Tour, the eighteenth is the course’s most difficult:
An excellent finishing hole that places a great demand off the tee. This dogleg left has water that comes into play on the first two shots, as well as fairway bunkers on the right. Spectator mounds surround the medium-sized green.
2009: 0 eagles, 49 birdies, 280 pars, 102 bogeys, 24 double bogeys, 5 others.
The winner of the tournament each year is given a blue and white seersucker jacket.
Al “Mr. 59” Greiberger shot his thirteen under par 59 at the “Danny Thomas St. Jude” in 1977. That same year, Gerald Ford, having just left office, hit a hole in one at the Celebrity Pro-Am.
On a local note, Dave Hill of Jackson, Michigan holds the record with four St. Jude wins.
| Year | Player | Score | To par | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Billy Maxwell | 267 | −13 | 1 stroke |
| FedEx St. Jude Classic | ||||
| 2016 | Daniel Berger | 267 | -13 | 3 strokes |
| 2015 | Fabián Gómez | 267 | −13 | 4 strokes |
| 2014 | Ben Crane | 270 | –10 | 1 stroke |
| 2013 | Harris English | 268 | −12 | 2 strokes |
| 2012 | Dustin Johnson | 271 | −9 | 1 stroke |
| 2011 | Harrison Frazar | 267 | −13 | Playoff |
| St. Jude Classic presented by Smith & Nephew | ||||
| 2010 | Lee Westwood | 270 | −10 | Playoff |
| St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx | ||||
| 2009 | Brian Gay | 262 | −18 | 5 strokes |
| Stanford St. Jude Championship | ||||
| 2008 | Justin Leonard (2) | 276 | −4 | Playoff |
| 2007 | Woody Austin | 267 | −13 | 5 strokes |
| FedEx St. Jude Classic | ||||
| 2006 | Jeff Maggert | 271 | −9 | 3 strokes |
| 2005 | Justin Leonard | 266 | −14 | 1 stroke |
| 2004 | David Toms (2) | 268 | −16 | 6 strokes |
| 2003 | David Toms | 264 | −20 | 3 strokes |
| 2002 | Len Mattiace | 266 | −18 | 1 stroke |
| 2001 | Bob Estes | 267 | −17 | 1 stroke |
| 2000 | Notah Begay III | 271 | −13 | 1 stroke |
| 1999 | Ted Tryba | 265 | −19 | 2 strokes |
| 1998 | Nick Price (2) | 268 | −16 | Playoff |
| 1997 | Greg Norman | 268 | −16 | 1 stroke |
| 1996 | John Cook | 258 | −26 | 7 strokes |
| 1995 | Jim Gallagher, Jr. | 267 | −17 | 1 stroke |
| Federal Express St. Jude Classic | ||||
| 1994 | Dicky Pride | 267 | −17 | Playoff |
| 1993 | Nick Price | 266 | −18 | 3 strokes |
| 1992 | Jay Haas | 263 | −21 | 3 strokes |
| 1991 | Fred Couples | 269 | −15 | 3 strokes |
| 1990 | Tom Kite | 269 | −15 | Playoff |
| 1989 | John Mahaffey | 272 | −12 | 3 strokes |
| 1988 | Jodie Mudd | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke |
| 1987 | Curtis Strange | 275 | −13 | 1 stroke |
| 1986 | Mike Hulbert | 280 | −8 | 1 stroke |
| St. Jude Memphis Classic | ||||
| 1985 | Hal Sutton | 279 | −9 | Playoff |
| Danny Thomas Memphis Classic | ||||
| 1984 | Bob Eastwood | 280 | −8 | 2 strokes |
| 1983 | Larry Mize | 274 | −14 | 1 stroke |
| 1982 | Raymond Floyd | 271 | −17 | 6 strokes |
| 1981 | Jerry Pate | 274 | −14 | 2 strokes |
| 1980 | Lee Trevino (3) | 272 | −16 | 1 stroke |
| 1979 | Gil Morgan | 278 | −10 | Playoff |
| 1978 | Andy Bean | 277 | −11 | Playoff |
| 1977 | Al Geiberger | 273 | −15 | 3 strokes |
| 1976 | Gibby Gilbert | 273 | −15 | 4 strokes |
| 1975 | Gene Littler | 270 | −18 | 5 strokes |
| 1974 | Gary Player | 273 | −15 | 2 strokes |
| 1973 | Dave Hill (4) | 283 | −5 | 1 stroke |
| 1972 | Lee Trevino (2) | 281 | −7 | 4 strokes |
| 1971 | Lee Trevino | 268 | −12 | 4 strokes |
| 1970 | Dave Hill (3) | 267 | −13 | 1 stroke |
| Memphis Open Invitational | ||||
| 1969 | Dave Hill (2) | 265 | −15 | 2 strokes |
| 1968 | Bob Lunn | 268 | −12 | 1 stroke |
| 1967 | Dave Hill | 272 | −8 | 2 strokes |
| 1966 | Bert Yancey | 265 | −15 | 5 strokes |
| 1965 | Jack Nicklaus | 271 | −9 | Playoff |
| 1964 | Mike Souchak | 270 | −10 | 1 stroke |
| 1963 | Tony Lema | 270 | −10 | Playoff |
| 1962 | Lionel Hebert | 267 | −13 | Playoff |
| 1961 | Cary Middlecoff | 266 | −14 | 5 strokes |
| 1960 | Tommy Bolt | 273 | −7 | Playoff |
| Memphis Open | ||||
| 1959 | Don Whitt | 272 | −8 | Playoff |
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