With the third major of the campaign – the US Open – firmly on the horizon, preparations for that will continue in earnest this week in Ohio at the Memorial Tournament. Sam Burns donned the tartan jacket at the Charles Schwab Challenge last weekend after holing an incredible 38-foot putt for birdie to pip Scottie Scheffler and clinch his fourth career PGA Tour title.
This week, there will be 550 FedEx Cup points for grabs, and there are a few key stats that are worth paying attention to before the tournament gets underway:
- Patrick Cantlay is aiming to become only the third player after Tiger Woods and Kenny Perry to win the Memorial on at least three occasions.
- Muirfield Village Golf Club is a par 72, playing 7,533 yards in total.
- Tom Lehman holds the 72-hole record for lowest total at the Memorial – 268 – which he achieved in 1994.
- 25 players finished under par last year at the Memorial.
So, how do we see this one unfolding then? Well, we have scoured around and found some good prices from two of the best online sports betting operators which should give you plenty of food for thought.
Patrick Cantlay to join illustrious company
It’s been a bit of a mixed season to date for the reigning FedEx Cup champion Cantlay. Although he enjoyed four top-10 finishes at the start of the year and came home second last month at the RBC Heritage, he missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Nevertheless, there’s something about Muirfield and the Memorial Tournament that holds a special place in Cantlay’s heart.
Jon Rahm’s win in 2020 may have prevented Cantlay from achieving a historic three-peat, but as we have seen, Cantlay will be looking to emulate Woods by lifting the title on three occasions. The American, generally, is very consistent and he has a nice flow to his game.
Nevertheless, Muirfield can be laden with danger and the Jack Nicklaus-designed course has been shaped to give the players a true sense of what the US Open will be like. You can expect to find a lot of high rough, although this won’t be too daunting for Cantlay.
However, you can get a rather intriguing looking price of Cantlay to come out on top once again at the Memorial Tournament and he’s been valued at +1600 with BetMGM to triumph.
Matt Fitzpatrick to come out of the gate quickly
Despite what we have said about some of the horrendous rough at Muirfield, there could still be some low scores shot this week. One player that could well make an impression, is Matt Fitzpatrick.
After recording a T5 finish at the PGA Championship, Fitzpatrick has enjoyed a rapid ascent up the world rankings (now 15th) and a maiden win on the PGA Tour could beckon.
There’s nothing over-elaborate with Fitzpatrick’s game and he is one of the most consistent players on the Tour. If anything, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him win a major one day, and when he’s dialled in, he will take some stopping.
This could end up being a productive week for the Englishman and he could come flying out of the traps quickly. The Round leaders market usually provides good value for money, so you can get a longish looking price of +2800 with Unibet for Fitzpatrick to sit at the summit of leader board after Round One.
