It feels strange that the U.S. Open is going down next week, but this is the last tune-up before a monstrous summer gets underway. The FedEx St. Jude Classic gets underway and has a field of the usual suspects who like to play and grab some momentum the week before a major championship.
Let's take a look at this week's contest.
What: St. Jude Classic | Where: Memphis, Tennessee | When: June 9-12
How to watch (all times ET):
TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday from 3:30-6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 1-2:30 p.m.) and CBS (Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m.)
Online: Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m. on CBSSports.com
Participants and odds
Dustin Johnson: 6-1
Phil Mickelson: 12-1
Brooks Koepka: 12-1
Ryan Palmer: 18-1
Gary Woodland: 20-1
Harris English: 22-1
Daniel Berger: 25-1
Colt Knost: 33-1
Charles Howell III: 45-1
Kyle Reifers: 45-1
Graeme McDowell: 50-1
Field strength: D+
This is not meant as any disrespect to Kyle Reifers because he would blister me in this sport, but when he's on your front page of favorites for a golf tournament, that's probably not the best thing. There are a smattering of large names, but not that many noteworthy golfers as it seems the whole world has one eye on Oakmont and the U.S. Open next weekend.
Story to watch: Welcome to the thick of things, Dustin Johnson! Johnson has now finished in the top five in four of his last five tournaments including a solo third last week at the Memorial Tournament. He's got a streak of having notched a win in eight straight seasons that is on the line over the next few months as he has yet to pick up win No. 1 for the 2015-16 season. It's difficult to see it not coming at some point though.
Johnson has actually been putting quite well this year (top 50 in strokes gained putting). His strokes gained tee to green have been outrageously good (top three off the tee) and solid with his approaches. It's around the green (scrambling) where Johnson has suffered. He's currently No. 133 on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green. Yikes.
As for what he has to do to get over the hump with that first win this year, Johnson was his usual succinct self last week after the Memorial.
"Just got to make some more putts," said Johnson. "Just keep grinding with the putter."
Might want to work on the wedge game too.
Past winners
2015: Fabian Gomez
2014: Ben Crane
2013: Harris English
2012: Dustin Johnson
2011: Harrison Frazar
This week always produces an, ahem, interesting winner given the field. I would expect nothing less this time around. Let's look at the picks this week.
Expert Picks (Kyle Porter)
| Player | Pick | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 | Winner | Dustin Johnson has to win at some point, right? That's been my thesis with him regarding major championships too, and that hasn't exactly worked out. Still, you keep knocking on the door so long, and it seems like it's just going to fall for him. Odds: 6-1 |
 | Top 10 | Harris English finished second at Colonial a couple of weeks ago and has a solid history here having won back in 2013. Odds: 22-1 |
 | Sleeper | Chad Campbell had a tasty backdoor top 10 at Colonial two weeks ago and finished in the top 10 here last season. Ranks in the top 30 in strokes gained tee to green but has been atrocious at times with the putter. Odds: 75-1 |
Here are my fantasy picks from our CBS Sports Pick 4 Fantasy Golf groups. Some of these are different than above because you aren't picking with odds. It's just straight up, and the players are tiered off.
You can set your Pick 4 Fantasy Golf lineup now to compete for this weekend's $1,000 prize.
| Player | Pick | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 | Winner | Brooks Koepka's last start on the PGA Tour saw him implode in a playoff against Sergio Garcia, but at least his game was good enough to get him into that playoff -- he did outplay Spieth on Sunday too. If there's ever a week to bounce back it's here, where he was T3 last year and gets a pretty weak field. Odds: 12-1 |
| | Top 10 | Dustin Johnson is the obvious choice to win, but I'm saving him for a week from now in that slot. For this week, let's just pencil him in for another top 10 finish. Odds: 6-1 |
 | Sleeper | Bud Cauley has been playing some quality golf the last month with a T4 at the Byron Nelson and a T38 last week at the Memorial. Let's look for him to stay in form this week and get in the mix again on Sunday. Roll Tide. Odds: 100-1 |
