It is the annual occasion where Jack Nicklaus hosts the stars of the PGA Tour this week when 120 of the leading players in the world descend on Muirfield Village for The Memorial Tournament.
Rory McIlroy isn’t fit to feature this week but every other leading player in the game tees it up in what should be a cracking renewal of one of the best tournaments on the PGA Tour.
Recent Winners
2016 – William McGirt
2015 – David Lingmerth
2014 – Hideki Matsuyama
2013 – Matt Kuchar
2012 – Tiger Woods
2011 – Steve Stricker
2010 – Justin Rose
2009 – Tiger Woods
2008 – Kenny Perry
2007 – K J Choi
The Course
Muirfield Village is very reminiscent of Augusta National in the test it provides. It is a second shot golf course where strong iron play and an excellent short game are needed to succeed and that is what we should be looking for here.
The course itself is a par 72 which measures 7,392 yards in total so it is moderate in length but with the freedom off the tee it can suit everyone. Generally the course is quite scorable but you have to play good shots from the right positions hence the all-round test of a golfer much in the mould of the host.
The Field
As noted above apart from Rory McIlroy anyone who is anyone is in the field this week with the exception of Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia. The Open champion is honouring his home tournament this week. That aside though this is one of the best fields outside of a major that we get all season as the players support Jack Nicklaus and all he does.
The US Open champion Dustin Johnson is in the field as is the defending champion William McGirt as well as a host of recent world number ones such as Jordan Spieth and Jason Day.
Market Leaders
It is the aforementioned Dustin Johnson who is the favourite this week. He can be backed at 6/1 to win this tournament for the first time. Johnson has a couple of top 10s around here but at this price you really need him to win. He’s too short for me.
Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm are the 12/1 second favourites. They both go into the tournament off the back of good weeks at the Dean and Deluca last week where they found Kevin Kisner too good for them but they should be suited by the test in this tournament and look fair prices if a shade skinny.
Jason Day is 14/1 to win the tournament for the first time. Given how well he has played over the last few years it is amazing that he has never produced a top 25 finish here. That’s more than enough to put me off him while Hideki Matsuyama’s form has waned recently so despite him winning the tournament in the past he looks too short at 20/1. It is 25/1 bar those named.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Main Bets
Two men catch my eye this week. I wouldn’t think either are a surprise given their records both here and at Augusta but that is the reason I like them. Matt Kuchar is in decent form with a couple of good weeks behind him and having won this tournament in the past we know he can win here. His form at Muirfield Village is very strong. Aside from his win he has had seven other top 15 finishes in his last nine appearances so he loves this week. He’s one of the best ball strikers in the game who looks on it with the putter so I expect another top showing.
Patrick Reed began the season in a bit of a slump but he is working his way out of that now and heads to a course where he finished in the top 10 last year. Reed has been woeful off the tee this year hence his struggles but with all the space in the world off the tee here I expect him to fare better. His iron play is usually on it and his short game is getting back to top form. If it all clicks he’s due a very big run at a tournament like this.
Outsiders
There are three at bigger prices I’m interested in here. You could make a real case for Bud Cauley being the next first time winner on the Tour and while first time winners don’t usually come along here McGirt won for the first time as did the two winners before him. Prior to last week Cauley had recorded four top 10s in a row and having led the field in strokes gained from tee to green and proximity from the fairway here last year a combination of that performance with added confidence for this year makes him a dangerous player.
Marc Leishman looks a real fit for this course. He is very solid from tee to green and has two top 11 finishes in this tournament in the last two years. He brings winning form with him this year and his effort last week was decent enough given that he was on the wrong end of the draw. There is no weakness in his game and that all-round strength makes him very dangerous here.
Steve Stricker is a former winner of this tournament and he warmed up for the week with a wonderful final round in Texas last week. Stricker is extremely motivated ahead of this tournament because he needs big ranking points to sneak into his home US Open in a couple of weeks so we can be sure he’ll be giving this his all rather than worrying about the upcoming Presidents Cup and things. Stricker is perfect for this course. Tee to green excellence combined with wizardry on the greens. He almost has to go well.
Tips
PLACED – Back M.Kuchar to win The Memorial (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 31.00 with Skybet (1/4 1-6)
Back M.Leishman to win The Memorial (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Skybet (1/4 1-6)
Back them here:
Back P.Reed to win The Memorial (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-6)
Back him here:
Back B.Cauley to win The Memorial (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back him here:
Back S.Stricker to win The Memorial (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-7)
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017
