Stanford St. Jude Championship

The Stanford St. Jude Championship tees off this weekend at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., where a field of the PGA’s best will compete for a new champion’s Seersucker jacket while warming up for next week’s U.S. Open.

With a $6 million total purse and $1,080,000 winner’s share on the line, as well as the signature silver eagle trophy, players will have to fight through the deep South summer heat and strong winds on the challenging 7,244-yard, Par-70 course.

This year, the Memphis tournament is starting a new tradition by awarding the winner with a Brooks Brothers’ Seersucker jacket on what the partnership is promoting as “Seersucker Sunday” in Shelby County.

“‘Seersucker Sunday’ is a visible way of embracing this historical and Southern tournament and to show the world our unified support of St. Jude,” said Brooks Brothers Chairman and CEO Claudio Del Vecchio.

“From the new winner’s jacket to the fans in the fairways, we want the television cameras on Sunday, June 8th, to broadcast a sea of seersucker.”

This week’s field includes a few players who know something about winning jackets, with reigning Masters champ Trevor Immelman and fellow Green Jacket wearer Vijay Singh. The leaderboard should also include THE PLAYERS champ Sergio Garcia and last year’s British Open champ Padraig Harrington.

Last year, Woody Austin shot an incredible 8-under 62 in the final round to post a 267 for a five-shot victory at the Stanford St. Jude Championship. Although Austin said he has posted better scores before — in friendly games at hometown courses — it doesn’t get much better than a final-round 62 to win a PGA Tour event.

“I controlled the ball so well with the irons,” said Austin. “Every shot was solid, every shot was where I was trying to hit it. …

“I’d have to say that finish was definitely the best I’ve ever had.”

But the player with the best track record in Memphis has to be David Toms, who won the event back-to-back years in 2003 and 2004, after finishing runner-up in 2002. Toms knows he has had success at the Stanford St. Jude Championship, but he’s not sure why — and he’s not going to overanalyze the results, either.

“I have no idea why I’ve done well here, other than I just enjoy coming here to play,” said Toms.

The LSU alum is one of several Southern golfers who should have a following this week, along with colorful characters like John Daly, Boo Weekley and last week’s winner at the Memorial Tournament, Kenny Perry.

The Stanford St. Jude Championship will be televised by GOLF Channel (3:00-6:30 p.m. ET) on Thursday and Friday, before CBS (3:00-6:00 p.m. ET) takes over the weekend coverage.