After one of the most incredible finishes to a PGA Tour event in recent memory, we get another look at Jack’s place this week for the Memorial Tournament, where Tiger Woods is back in action for the first time in five months…
- Related: PGA Tour to stay behind closed doors
Memorial Tournament details
Venue: Muirfield Village Golf Club, Ohio, USA
Date: July 16-19, 2020
Course stats: Par 72; 7,392 yards
Course summary: The Workday Charity Open highlighted the importance of finding the fairway from the tee, with players repeatedly punished for being out of position. This week we expect faster greens, so strong putting stats will be important. Avoiding the multiple hazards, especially around the green, is a must for players wanting to contend here.
Purse: $9.3 million
Defending champion: Patrick Cantlay (-19)
Memorial Tournament TV coverage
Thursday: Featured groups from 12.30pm, live coverage from 7.30pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event)
Friday: Featured groups from 12.30pm, live coverage from 7.30pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event)
Saturday: Featured groups from 1.40pm, live coverage from 5.30pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event)
Sunday: Featured groups from 2pm, live coverage from 6pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event)
Memorial Tournament betting: Each-way tips
Daniel Berger (40/1 with bet365) fits the profile of a potential winner at Muirfield Village. Despite not playing last week’s event, Berger has a win and a 3rd-place finish in two starts since the break. He is also ranked 35th in SG: Approach and 38th in Driving Accuracy. On a course which rewards finding the fairway off the tee, and with a selection of well-guarded greens, Berger has a great opportunity here if he can pick up where he left off at the RBC Heritage.
Sergio Garcia (66/1) registered his best finish of the season at Harbour Town, and followed up with a T32 at The Travelers before taking a week off. As another selection who didn’t play the course last week, I am basing my decision on his outstanding stats. Garcia ranks 3rd SG: Off the Tee and 4th Tee to Green. If combined with his most recent performance at River Highlands, where he hit 77% of GIR, he should suit this test perfectly. My one concern over the Spaniard is his putting, but I am prepared to take a gamble here.
Tony Finau (66/1) completes a hat-trick of players that didn’t feature at last week’s event. This may seem like a red flag for punters, but Muirfield will be a different test this week and Finau is another player who has the credentials to suit. Finau, who carded a 59 in his week off, ranks 34th in SG: Approach, 40th in Off the Tee and 8th in Around the Green. Course form also supports his selection with two top 10 and a top 20 finish since 2015. Finau’s price has been rising each week since the restart, and now might be time to jump on it for a small each-way stake.
Memorial Tournament betting: The long shot
Ian Poulter (80/1) had an impressive tournament at the Workday Charity Open, recording his best finish of the season at T5. But he remains a huge price for a player who demonstrated some excellent approach shots and dazzled with the putter. Since the restart Poulter has completed 16 rounds, 15 of them even par or better including all four at Muirfield Village last week. I am backing him to follow up with another strong challenge this week for each-way backers.
Memorial Tournament betting: Top tip
Webb Simpson (28/1) has already won twice this season, including one since the restart. Simpson suits this track perfectly, ranking 20th in Driving Accuracy, 5th in SG: Approach, 16th in SG: Putting and 6th in SG: Total. After a week off, I’m hoping Simpson returns refreshed and represents the best value at in a season where he has accumulated six top 10s in eight starts.
For more prices, visit bet365.
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