Memorial Tournament betting tips: Unfinished business for Rahm
Published:
Preview and odds for this week’s PGA Tour event
The house that Jack Nicklaus built, well one of them, is the next stop on the PGA Tour and the 18-time major champion plays host to the world’s best at the Memorial Tournament.
John Rahm and Rory McIlroy head the betting at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, while Patrick Cantlay is the defending champion.
The action takes place from June 2-5 and we have picked out four players to follow.
John Rahm
Rahm should be aiming for a Memorial hat-trick when he pegs it up on Thursday.
He was six shots clear after three rounds of the defence of his crown last year only to be told he had tested positive for Covid-19 and his tournament was over.
In truth, his form last year was better than it is now – he topped the world rankings not too long ago – but he was a winner at the start of May – in Mexico – and there is a sense of unfinished business.
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay was the man who took advantage of Rahm’s bad luck 12 months ago, claiming the title after a play-off with Collin Morikawa.
It was the second time Cantlay had lifted the trophy. The first was two years earlier when some sound advice from Mr Nicklaus himself helped him get the job done.
It is a real honor to win @MemorialGolf at Jack’s place again. The fans made it such a fun Sunday and it was great to battle it out with @collin_morikawa. @JonRahmpga played an amazing three rounds and I’m looking forward to seeing him back competing again. pic.twitter.com/aygn9sn4fW
— Patrick Cantlay (@patrick_cantlay) June 7, 2021
Cantlay knows his way round the track, he has a fourth-place finish under his belt as well and recent renovations won’t scare him.
He arrives off the back of a missed cut at Southern Hills but was second at the RBC Heritage and first at the Zurich Classic in his two outings before the year’s second major.
Cameron Smith
Smith has never had an easy relationship with Muirfield Village, missing the cut in four of his six visits and finishing no better than 65th when completing the four laps. So why consider him?
Well, the Australian is a two-time winner in 2022 – at the Tournament of Champions and The Players – and has three other top-10s, including third at The Masters.
He ranks first in strokes gained on approach and that is the stat that matters here. He is third in SG: total. Course history is important but Smith is a player we will make an exception for.
Aaron Wise
Speaking of stats, the PGA Tour website is a mine of information and if you dig deep enough you might find a gem tucked away in a corner.
Wise struggled at the start of the year after finding a bit of form at the tail end of 2021 but he tied for 17th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, was just outside the top 20 at the RBC Heritage and US PGA, then sixth in Mexico when Rahm finished top of the pile.
More importantly, over the past 24 rounds he ranks 10th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 14th in Strokes Gained: Tee to green.
He also has one top-10 finish in his three visits to Muirfield Village. A lively outsider with each-way returns on eight places.
Tournament group betting
Group A – Rahm, McIlroy, Cantlay, Morikawa and Xander Schauffele.
Group B – Smith, Jordan Spieth, Shane Lowry, Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland.
Group C – Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, Will Zalatoris, Cameron Young, Max Homa.
A treble on Rahm, Smith and Zalatoris to win their groups pays a touch over 60/1.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
