The Early Word: Dems take Chicago, golf winner takes home trophy

Holly Whitfield By , Daily Memphian
Updated: August 19, 2024 7:10 AM CT | Published: August 19, 2024 6:29 AM CT Premium

Good morning on this Monday, Aug. 19, which also happens to be National Potato Day. I’m Holly Whitfield, your friendly neighborhood Digital Director, filling in for Bianca Phillips today.

After a week of heat, humidity and golf at TPC Southwind, the FedEx St. Jude Championship got a winner and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital got a big donation.

The Democratic National Convention begins today in Chicago and several Shelby County delegates are there. For more on what’s happening in the coming days, check out This Week In Memphis, which publishes every Sunday afternoon.

A handful of Democratic supporters and delegates showed up to a pre-convention rally at Wooddale Middle School in Parkway Village Saturday, Aug 17. Our own Bill Dries reports that several delegates spoke to a smaller-than-expected crowd, including U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis. Cohen urged the group to vote, saying that “democracy is at stake” this year — while admitting that the “this election is historic” idea is one we’ve heard a lot in recent years. Another speaker made national headlines last year as one of the “Tennessee Three,” and took Saturday’s event as an opportunity to say that Republicans have a vision of “white supremacy and patriarchy” that affects Tennessee and Memphis.

Hideki Matsuyama will leave Memphis with a trophy and a few million bucks after a dramatic final day on the course of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. As John Varlas reports, Matsuyama beat out world No. 2 Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland by just two strokes after losing the 5-stroke lead he had starting out the day. “I’m especially happy to win one of the FedEx events,” Matsuyama said through an interpreter. The Daily Memphian sports writer Drew Hill also talks through the win for the Masters champion and Olympic bronze medalist, and how it made some of Memphis’ most important people very happy. And while there were plenty of local eats available at the tournament, winner Matsuyama had another idea for his victory meal.

Plus, a poll shows some love for Memphis officials, a new cold, sweet treats shop opens to fill the Jerry’s void and a 95-year-old hardware store has a new owner. 

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The Early Word FedEx St. Jude Championship Subscriber Only

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Holly Whitfield

Holly Whitfield

Holly has more than 13 years of experience in publishing and digital content, including 10 years at the helm of the I Love Memphis Blog. She began her career at The Commercial Appeal and is author of Secret Memphis.


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