Fantasy Golf Preview: FedEx St Jude Classic and Lyoness Open

Published: 08 June 2016

It’s that week before a major, when many of the game’s biggest names are prepping their game for the torture that awaits at a US Open at Oakmont.

Some – like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson – are fine-tuning at the FedEx St Jude Classic, while many Euros make their way over to the US for the year’s second major.

The European Tour heads to France for the Lyoness Open, where in-form Englishman Chris Wood – winner of the BMW PGA a couple of weeks ago – defends his title.

It’s being staged at Diamond Country Club in Austria. The 6,760 metre layout was designed by English architect Jeremy Pern, and Miguel Ángel Jiménez has since redone several holes.

Over the Atlantic, the PGA Tour is in Memphis for the popular FedEx St Jude Classic, where Mickelson leads the list of notable players, which includes in-form Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. Mickelson is playing the event for the fourth consecutive year. Among his latest results at TPC Southwind are a T2 in 2013 and a T3 last year.

Top five fantasy picks this week…

Chris Wood (£11m) – Lyoness Open
The Englishman started the final round five shots adrift of Gregory Bourdy’s lead, but his 67 was enough to bag his first European Tour title since the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in 2013. Wood finished on 15 under, two shots clear of Raphael Cabrera Bello.

Rafael Cabrera Bello (£9.5m) – Lyoness Open
The Spaniard loves this event. Along with his runner-up spot last year, in 2009 he shot 60 on the final day and win a European Tour title. He followed Ian Woosnam (1990 Monte Carlo Open) and Jamie Spence (1992 European Masters).

Dustin Johnson (£14.5m) – FedEx St Jude Classic
The in-form American just missed out at the Memorial last week, finishing third and just a shot out of the playoff. He won this event in 2012.

Ryan Palmer (£9m) – FedEx St Jude Classic
Palmer has finished 3rd and 4th in two of his last four starts worldwide. He’s also finished 3rd and 4th in two of his last four starts at TPC Southwind.

Brooks Koepka (£13.5m) – FedEx St Jude Classic
Arrives here fresh off his best finish in more than a year, losing a playoff to Sergio Garcia at the AT&T Byron Nelson, and played well here a year ago, finishing T3.

For the FedEx St Jude Classic tee times, click here.

For the Lyoness Open tee times, click here.

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