Odds to Lead After First-Round of 2019 WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational; DJ, McIlroy, Koepka Co-Favorites

• The WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational tees off Thursday, July 25th
• Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy & Brooks Koepka the co-favorites to take first round lead
• Who are the best value picks to lead after 18 holes?

A week after the final major of the season wrapped up at the Open Championship the stars have gathered in Memphis for the World Golf Championships FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

46 of the top 50 players in the world are teeing it up, with the three regulars Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka sharing the same odds to begin the event with the lead after 18 holes. So who presents the best value?

2019 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational First Round Leader Odds

*Odds taken 07/24/19.

Dustin Johnson Presents Best Value Amongst Co-Favorites

Golf betting is hard. Really really hard. But of the three co-favorites, it should make complete sense that Dustin Johnson has the best value to be leading after day one. This tournament has moved from Akron, Ohio to Memphis, Tennessee, on a course that DJ won at last year for the second time in his career, when it was a regular tour event, the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

PGA TOUR at TPC Southwind • The FedEx St. Jude Classic was held at TPC Southwind every year from 1989 to 2018 • Dustin Johnson is the only player in the field to have won the FedEx St. Jude Classic (2012, 2018) • 25 players in the field never played the FedEx St. Jude Classic:

— Ron Mintz (@MintzGolf) July 24, 2019

He’s also racked up six career World Golf Championships titles, compared to two for Rory and none for Koepka. Bet Johnson with confidence over the other two men, who came off a crushing missed cut at the Open on his home soil (Rory), and Koepka who readily admits he doesn’t care about tournaments other than the majors.

Matt Kuchar a Solid Choice to Lead After First Round

Matt Kuchar has been playing fantastic golf, with two victories this season and two runner-ups. In 18 events, he has shot over par on the opening day just once, at the Memorial Tournament (+1, 73).

Kuchar has also finished in the top-16 in seven of his last nine tournaments. Most importantly, for the purposes of this wager, he’s tops in first round scoring average so his +3300 odds present great value.

PGA Tour First Round Scoring Leaders

2019 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational First Round Leader Best Value Picks

1. Patrick Reed (+4000): Showing signs his game is coming back around with T-5, T-10 and T-23 in last three events. Respectable 36th in first round scoring average.
2. Matthew Wolff (+5000): 20-year old wunderkind won in his third professional event at the 3M Open this month. Playing first WGC event, but has the stones to break through on bigger stage already.
3. J.B. Holmes (+6600): Led the Open Championship after 18 holes last week at 200-1 odds and had a chance to win before a disastrous final round. Third last year at this course, TPC Southwind.