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Bob Weeks Picks Six – The Memorial
Published
The PGA Tour heads into a four-week stretch of big events, if you include the RBC Canadian Open in that list. The Memorial, a.k.a. Jack’s tournament, starts the swing at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.
The course is among the more difficult on the PGA Tour and in the past, the tournament has been among the soggiest in terms of rain with what seems like regular rain stoppages over the last few years. That shouldn’t be the case this year as the forecast looks warm and dry.
The field is deep with most of the top-ranked golfers in the world present. That includes Jon Rahm who won in 2020 and appeared to be on his way to defending that title when he was forced to withdraw due to a positive COVID test. This came after he grabbed a six-shot lead through 54 holes.
Winner
Scottie Scheffler +650
The betting favourite with a best finish of third here two years ago. He has two wins this year including the Players and sits first or second in four of the top seven Strokes Gained categories. If there is any worry, it might be fatigue as this is his fourth consecutive week on tour.
Patrick Cantlay +1000
Cantlay has feasted on Muirfield Village over the years with two wins and two other top-five finishes including a tie for third last year. As well, his new caddie, Joe LaCava has some experience at this course in his days looping for Tiger Woods. Cantlay doesn’t have a win yet this year, but he has top-10s in three of his last four starts. Currently fourth in Strokes Gained: Total.
Top 10
Xander Schauffele +160
The Olympic champ has been inside the top 20 in each of his last four starts at this event. He’s also been inside the top 20 in every one of his last seven starts this season, including three top-four finishes. Currently 11th in Strokes Gained: Putting, which bodes well on Muirfield Village’s greens.
Jason Day +230
A home game for Day who lives in Dublin and is a member at Muirfield Village. His best finish here is a tie for fourth, which he posted two years ago. Broke a dry spell with a win at the Byron Nelson a few weeks back and has another six top 10s in his return to form this season.
Top 20
Sahith Theegala
This guy is more than overdue for a victory and while it could come here, a high finish is likely. Theegala finished tied for fifth here last year. He’s played 19 events so far this year and only missed one cut, that coming back in October. He’s logged seven top 10s and 10 top 25s in a breakout year.
Adam Scott +240
Will make his 15th start at the Memorial this week and he has played the course well, missing the cut just once in that stretch. His best finish came in 2019 when he ended up in second, two shots back of Patrick Cantlay. Has not missed a cut in 11 starts this year and has top 10s in two of his last three tournaments played.