FedEx St. Jude Championship First-Round Leader Tips: Dave Tindall's three to back up to 60/1

FedEx St. Jude Championship weather forecast for Thursday

Temperatures are due to hit an astonishing 109 degrees on Sunday. It's not quite that extreme on Thursday but the mercury will still touch three figures around 1pm.

The early morning starters will at least have a little relief to begin with: 80 degrees is predicted for those teeing off prior to 08:00.

Wind speeds are highest (13mph) in mid-morning but drop a little either side.

A total of 69 players go to post, with Jackson Koivun off first on his own at 07:10. The other 34 two-balls head out in 10-minute intervals from 07:20 to 13:05.

First Round Leader Bet 1: Eric Cole @ 55/156.00

I'd rather back players going out early before they melt in the Memphis heat!

History supports the idea and every leader/joint leader in the last five years had a morning tee-time, three of those 8.40am or earlier.

Eric Cole gave us a 50/151.00 FRL winner at the Travelers after shooting a 63 and I'm happy to back him again here.

Prior to that he'd set the pace at the Canadian Open (64) while at last week's Wyndham Championship a 63 put him fourth after 18 holes.

He's played this event just twice but on debut an opening 66 put him fifth while on his only other appearance Cole closed with a 63.

Back him at 55s from his 07:40 tee-time.

First Round Leader Bet 2: Tom Kim @ 35/136.00

We also made some FRL profits with Tom Kim after he co-led the Scottish Open last month, an event he went on to win.

Just four starts earlier, the Korean topped Thursday's leaderboard at the Charles Schwab Challenge and, similar to Cole, he added to those two FRLs with a strong opener (65) in last week's Wyndham Championship where he finished fifth.

Kim has looked rejuvenated this summer and I've also backed him in my outright preview.

At this event in 2023 he set off with a 64 to end the day in second and he fired that same six-under total in round two a year later.

Kim, who ranks 17th in the PGA Tour's Early Scoring Average table, tees it up at 08:20.

First Round Leader Bet 3: Harry Hall @ 60/161.00

I'll complete a trio of early starters with a punt on Harry Hall at 60s.

The Englishman with the flat cap needs to make a move this week as he starts the tournament at 58th in the FedEx Cup standings and only the top 50 on Sunday advance to the next leg of the Playoffs (BMW Championship).

Hall has momentum after a fifth place in the Wyndham Championship where he fired 64-66 on the weekend to jump up from 38th at halfway.

That surge was helped by some strong iron play and he ranked 7th for SG: Approach at Sedgefield.

Hall made his debut in this event last year, finishing 22nd, and the highlight of his four laps of TPC Southwind was a first-round 64 which put him third after day one.

Let's hope for a repeat from his 10:20 tee-time.

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