The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio Purse: $6,200,000 also check out my 2014 Nor...
The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance
Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio Purse: $6,200,000
also check out my 2014 Nordea Masters tips here
Always one of the top fields on the PGA Tour calendar and the perfect dress rehearsal for Pinehurst in two weeks time. As with most Jack Nicklaus courses, Muirfield is traditionally generous off the tee but gets exponentially tougher as you approach the small greens. In the last two seasons it has ranked as the toughest par 72 on the PGA Tour roster.
Jack hates to see the pros beat up his course and dedicates his retirement to finding ways to beat them up instead. Succeeded too in the last two stagings!
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Rory McIlroy will start as justifiable favourite from 8/1 having backed up his super solid recent form (top 10’s at Players, Wells Fargo, Masters, Houston, nearly won Honda!) with a big win at the BMW PGA Championship. Tied 10th here in 2010 and solo fifth in 2011. Sure to be some fatigue after everything that happened on and off the course last week. Goes head to head with Adam Scott here too.
Justin Rose 16/1
Rose finds himself this week where Rory was last week, on a good run of form, just waiting for the breakthrough. 25th at Wentworth following a T4 at The Players, 5th at Quail Hollow and T8 at The Zurich Classic. Ranks alongside Matt Kuchar as the two most consistent Muirfield Village performers in the field having a T2 in 2008, win in 2010, solo 8th in 2012 and a T8 last season. This is one course Rose’s average clip of 144th in driving accuracy won’t hurt him but where his third in scrambling from greenside rough will prove vital.
Matt Kuchar 16/1
Has seen his odds lengthen after missing his first cut since February last week at Colonial. It doesn’t put me off however, +2 wasn’t exactly a blowout and besides he needed a rest. Matty still has a total of five top-7 finishes in last six events and when you throw in that one of those was a win at Hilton Head it looks even better. Regardless of form however Kuchar is analytical in his management of Jack Nicklaus’s course and always putts well here. I make it that Kuch has five top 10’s since 2008, he was T2 behind Steve Stricker in 2011 and finally got his win last season.
Gary Woodland 33/1
I’ve been very impressed by Gary Woodland’s progression this season in general but especially of late, so much so that he’s getting a tip this week. One of the best Par-4 birdie makers on the PGA Tour this season Woodland is on a cut streak of 13 and has improved his finishing position in his last four events. From a T26 at The Masters he has gone T18 at the Wells Fargo, T11 at The Players and T7 at the Byron Nelson. Best here of an impressive solo sixth during a hot streak in 2011.
Said to be over the trauma of watching a man drive his mobility scooter into a tree and topple over.
Phil Mickelson 30/1
There’s no logic in tipping Phil Mickelson this week but at least listen to what I have to say. He’s down at 30/1 because he missed the cut at The Players and the Masters before that but between you and me, that’s no bad thing. As sure as eggs are eggs Mickelson will have put in countless hours on the range since, getting it right, and will be itching to put in a HUGE performance before the US Open. And where better than at a course he can lash it off the tee to his hearts content? When I see Phil I’m not thinking of the four 75’s or worse in his last three events, I’m thinking of the 63 at Quail Hollow and a man on a mission. Didn’t play in 2013, WD after one round in 2012, T13 in 2011, T5 in 2010. After he wins Phil will proclaim this latest Callaway driver the best one he ever has laid eyes on. You know it’s fonna happen!
Kevin Chappell 66/1
Ran Kuch very close here last year and will be full of confidence having notched up his first top 10 of the year at Colonial last week. Goes under the radar but is one of the most solid greens in regulation hitters on Tour. On a course with putting surfaces averaging just 5,000 square feet that becomes key. Will be up there again this week.
Russell Henley 80/1 was T6 here last year and is a winner on Tour earlier this year at The Honda. His T17 at The Players included a bounceback of 66 on Sunday after an 80 Saturday.
Bo Van Pet 80/1 is another who seems to be on an improving formline and perennially enjoys a good Memorial. Three top 15’s in the last four years with a best of T3 in 2010.
Still cannot believe he starred in Debbie Does Dallas.
It’s great to see Stewart Cink 125/1 back making cuts and enjoying his golf. He’s made his last six cuts, was in the top 15 at The Masters and on paper could be in line for a top-10 finish from odds of about 12/1 this week. He was T8 here in 2010 and 2009.
Follow @golfcentraldoc
Related: Everything You Need To Know About Pinehurst.
Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio Purse: $6,200,000
also check out my 2014 Nordea Masters tips here
Course
Always one of the top fields on the PGA Tour calendar and the perfect dress rehearsal for Pinehurst in two weeks time. As with most Jack Nicklaus courses, Muirfield is traditionally generous off the tee but gets exponentially tougher as you approach the small greens. In the last two seasons it has ranked as the toughest par 72 on the PGA Tour roster.
Jack hates to see the pros beat up his course and dedicates his retirement to finding ways to beat them up instead. Succeeded too in the last two stagings!
Follow @golfcentraldoc
Favourite: Rory McIlroy 8/1
Rory McIlroy will start as justifiable favourite from 8/1 having backed up his super solid recent form (top 10’s at Players, Wells Fargo, Masters, Houston, nearly won Honda!) with a big win at the BMW PGA Championship. Tied 10th here in 2010 and solo fifth in 2011. Sure to be some fatigue after everything that happened on and off the course last week. Goes head to head with Adam Scott here too.
Doc’s Top 5 To Watch
Justin Rose 16/1
Rose finds himself this week where Rory was last week, on a good run of form, just waiting for the breakthrough. 25th at Wentworth following a T4 at The Players, 5th at Quail Hollow and T8 at The Zurich Classic. Ranks alongside Matt Kuchar as the two most consistent Muirfield Village performers in the field having a T2 in 2008, win in 2010, solo 8th in 2012 and a T8 last season. This is one course Rose’s average clip of 144th in driving accuracy won’t hurt him but where his third in scrambling from greenside rough will prove vital.
Matt Kuchar 16/1
Has seen his odds lengthen after missing his first cut since February last week at Colonial. It doesn’t put me off however, +2 wasn’t exactly a blowout and besides he needed a rest. Matty still has a total of five top-7 finishes in last six events and when you throw in that one of those was a win at Hilton Head it looks even better. Regardless of form however Kuchar is analytical in his management of Jack Nicklaus’s course and always putts well here. I make it that Kuch has five top 10’s since 2008, he was T2 behind Steve Stricker in 2011 and finally got his win last season.
Gary Woodland 33/1
I’ve been very impressed by Gary Woodland’s progression this season in general but especially of late, so much so that he’s getting a tip this week. One of the best Par-4 birdie makers on the PGA Tour this season Woodland is on a cut streak of 13 and has improved his finishing position in his last four events. From a T26 at The Masters he has gone T18 at the Wells Fargo, T11 at The Players and T7 at the Byron Nelson. Best here of an impressive solo sixth during a hot streak in 2011.
Said to be over the trauma of watching a man drive his mobility scooter into a tree and topple over.
Phil Mickelson 30/1
There’s no logic in tipping Phil Mickelson this week but at least listen to what I have to say. He’s down at 30/1 because he missed the cut at The Players and the Masters before that but between you and me, that’s no bad thing. As sure as eggs are eggs Mickelson will have put in countless hours on the range since, getting it right, and will be itching to put in a HUGE performance before the US Open. And where better than at a course he can lash it off the tee to his hearts content? When I see Phil I’m not thinking of the four 75’s or worse in his last three events, I’m thinking of the 63 at Quail Hollow and a man on a mission. Didn’t play in 2013, WD after one round in 2012, T13 in 2011, T5 in 2010. After he wins Phil will proclaim this latest Callaway driver the best one he ever has laid eyes on. You know it’s fonna happen!
Kevin Chappell 66/1
Ran Kuch very close here last year and will be full of confidence having notched up his first top 10 of the year at Colonial last week. Goes under the radar but is one of the most solid greens in regulation hitters on Tour. On a course with putting surfaces averaging just 5,000 square feet that becomes key. Will be up there again this week.
Long Odds Glory
Russell Henley 80/1 was T6 here last year and is a winner on Tour earlier this year at The Honda. His T17 at The Players included a bounceback of 66 on Sunday after an 80 Saturday.
Bo Van Pet 80/1 is another who seems to be on an improving formline and perennially enjoys a good Memorial. Three top 15’s in the last four years with a best of T3 in 2010.
Still cannot believe he starred in Debbie Does Dallas.
It’s great to see Stewart Cink 125/1 back making cuts and enjoying his golf. He’s made his last six cuts, was in the top 15 at The Masters and on paper could be in line for a top-10 finish from odds of about 12/1 this week. He was T8 here in 2010 and 2009.
Follow @golfcentraldoc
Related: Everything You Need To Know About Pinehurst.
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