Memphis in the middle of August is bound to get hot, and the PGA Tour professionals are feeling the heat for the playoffs.
Justin Rose said he was prepared to use an umbrella to fend off the rays during the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind as the weekend goes on, as 20-time PGA Tour winner Scottie Scheffler was seen hitting with a shirt full of sweat as Michael Brennan was loading up on electrolytes.
The first round heat didn’t back down, with temperatures in Memphis feeling like 100 degrees. Hot and humid conditions persisted, with temperatures climbing into the upper 90s during the afternoon, and the heat index rising above 100°F by 10 a.m. and peaking in the 105-110°F range.
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“Comfortable with the golf course, not with the heat,” said Michael Kim after the first round. “You don’t have to bomb it. You just have to kind of pick your spots here and there and try to give yourself as many birdie looks because the greens aren’t too crazy out here.”
Nearly everyone else agreed, saying that mental errors are on the rise thanks to the conditions.
“I think more than anything, other than the normal challenges of playing a good golf course, it’s the mental errors, just from exhaustion or fatigue or whatever the heat brings to you,” said Adam Scott. “It’s easy just to slip up and zone out for a moment, and that can be costly around a track like this.”
Harris English was also seen rocking a neck-towel -Credit:Getty Images
Fan favorite Tommy Fleetwood, the reigning Tour Championship winner, sided with the heat, taking note that he’s not the only one struggling and making the most of what he’s offered.
“It’s just hot, isn’t it?,” said Fleetwood. “You just have to be really sort of disciplined and specific with the work that you want to do and try and manage time as much as possible.
“It’s just this time of year and the Playoffs, you would definitely rather be here grinding away than not. So enjoy it really, enjoy the heat and everything, and make the most of it.”
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One-time winner Michael Thorbjornsen has been sick, and said that the heat is better than being cold, as chilly temperatures make it harder to breathe.
“It was a little tough kind of dealing with the heat and there’s still a sickness, kind of hacking up on every hole,” said Thorbjornsen.
“But good. I was very solid tee to green, I would say. Managed to make some putts and obviously a nice chip-in on the last.”
The heat is only supposed to get worse as the weekend goes on, with temperatures hitting 100 degrees on Sunday.