Few and far between are the Memphis sporting events to reach a golden anniversary. This weekend at Southwind’s TPC golf course, though, Memphis and the PGA Tour will be doing the links equivalent of blowing out 50 candles.
What might you find different about the 2007 Stanford St. Jude Championship, as compared with the 1958 Memphis Open? Well, start with the prize money. Billy Maxwell won that inaugural event (at the Colonial Country Club) and took home $2,800 out of a total purse of $20,000. This year’s winner can cash a check in the amount of $1.08 million, with the total purse no less than $6 million.
Among the favorites for this year’s winner’s check are Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia, David Toms (pictured), and last year’s champ, Jeff Maggert. Adding to the drama of this year’s event is the fact that the SSJC is the final tune-up before next week’s U.S. Open.
An important final note: Last year’s tournament donated more than $1 million of its proceeds to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Now THAT is a gold standard every Memphian can celebrate.
Stanford St. Jude Championship at TPC at Southwind through June 10th. For more information, go to stanfordstjude.com.
