Golfers -- and community volunteers -- ready to take the spotlight in FedEx St. Jude Championship

Mark Russell, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Good morning and Happy Thursday!

This is Executive Editor Mark Russell and you're reading a golf-focused edition of the Daily Briefing, our one-stop digital shop for the best Memphis stories from our award-winning Commercial Appeal team.

The first golfer at the inaugural FedEx St. Jude Championship tees off at just after 7 a.m. today at TPC Southwind.

And there are plenty of storylines on and off the course.

The subject that has engulfed golf in recent months and been smack in the middle of the sport's spotlight is on the tip of everyone's tongue. The bitter, very public rivalry that's unfurling between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf has become the focus, reports Jason Munz.

Even as Justin Thomas and his PGA Tour brethren try to concentrate on this week's FedEx St. Jude Championship – which serves as the kickoff of the three-event FedExCup Playoffs – there's no avoiding it.

Controversy is alive and well at the Championship. So are the kids with cancer, writes Columnist Mark Giannotto.

Every summer the PGA and its hordes of golfers and fans descend on Memphis for the annual golf tournament, and the event requires months of planning, preparation and set-up. From parking to security to food, the huge event requires an equally huge staff to support it. This is where the 1,500 community volunteers come, reports Niki Scheinberg.

In case you missed it: Ralph Prater, one of the first Black students at Memphis State and member of the Memphis State Eight, has died, Lucas Finton reports.

Calling all foodies: If you want to keep up with the tastiest news in Bluff City, sign up for our Eat Drink Memphis weekly newsletter for a hearty serving of stories on everything from restaurants to recipes. You can sign up here.

Thanks for reading The Commercial Appeal! Your support powers our ability to do important journalism, including the stories below. If you are not yet a subscriber, please consider becoming one. You can find the best deals at this site.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Volunteers golfers take center stage in FedEx St. Jude Championship Memphis