Betting tips: Who to back at the Memorial
The one to be on: Jordan Spieth
Double the price of Dustin Johnson, if the putter’s on song then the Texan’s force of will could see him home here.
Let’s not forget that despite all his ‘struggles’ this season, he still has a win at Pebble Beach and six top 10s.
For most of this field, that’s an outstanding campaign. But after missed cuts at the Players and Byron Nelson – where he changed his putter – there’s the perception all is not right in the Spieth camp.
For me, though, there was a lot to like about his tied second last week in the Dean & Deluca.
We’ll never be swooning over his iron shots. But if he keeps banging in 20-footers, it’s largely irrelevant what he does from tee to green.
That might come across as simplistic but, after almost missing the cut, I was impressed by his weekend charge. Why can’t he push on at Muirfield Village?
A third placed finish in 2015 bolsters confidence. At 12/1, paying down to seventh with some firms, you’d have to be confident of a return.
The each-way back: Ben An
The Korean’s been in pretty tidy form of late, contending at Wentworth before slipping out of the top 20 and coming on the back of top 10s at the Byron Nelson and the Wells Fargo Championship.
So why the 60/1? I’m a loss, to be honest. Inexperience at Muirfield Village – he has only played once before – may be a part.
But, given he finished 11th on debut, I’ll be vacuuming up that price.
You generally need to be on the fairway here so An will have to tighten up his accuracy. But he’s still averaging more than half a stroke gained off the tee and more than a stroke from tee to green.
He couldn’t, could he?: Charl Schwartzel
Charl Schwartzel has been pretty quiet since finishing third at the Masters, missing the cut at the Players and withdrawing from the Byron Nelson.
The wrist injury that sidelined him is still requiring treatment – as late as Monday he was reporting icing it.
That’s factored into the price – the South African is 70/1 to win Jack Nicklaus’s event. So it is worth flinging a pound his way?
He cites Memorial as one of his favourite weeks of the year and has the form to prove it. Two top 10s and an 11th in over the last four years may see me take a chance.
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
