2024 Memorial Tournament Preview & Picks

Even though the RBC Canadian Open didn’t have the same thrilling finish as in 2023, it still gave us a great story. Robert MacIntyre secured his first PGA Tour victory with his dad as his caddie.

Corey Conners was our closest outright finishing 6th four shots behind the winner. However, we did cash two of our placements Maverick McNealy T20 (+150) and Keith Mitchell T20 (+160). Overall we lost 0.06 units on the week.

Before we’ve even teed off, the storylines have already started…

The Memorial Tournament marks the seventh Signature Event on the 2024 PGA TOUR schedule.

Scottie Scheffler returns to action after finishing as the runner-up in his last start at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He has won four of his last seven tournaments and has only finished outside the top 10 once in twelve events this season. This will be Scheffler’s fourth appearance at Muirfield Village, where he finished 3rd in both 2021 and 2023.

Xander Schauffele, who won his first Major Championship at Valhalla last month, will be playing in his first tournament since that victory. He has competed in the Memorial Tournament six times, finishing inside the top 20 on four occasions.

Viktor Hovland, the defending champion of this event, is still searching for his first victory of the season. His last win on the PGA Tour was at last year’s TOUR Championship. Although he struggled earlier this season, he enters this week’s event following his best performance of the year, a 3rd place finish at the PGA Championship.

Patrick Cantlay, a two-time winner of this event, is aiming for his first PGA Tour victory since his triumph at the 2022 BMW Championship.

Auburn’s Jackson Koivun concluded his remarkable season by clinching the 2024 Division I Jack Nicklaus Award presented by Workday. In an unprecedented achievement, he became the first golfer ever to sweep all three national player of the year awards – the Haskins, the Hogan, and the Nicklaus – along with the Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman award in a single season. Despite finishing as the runner-up at the NCAA Championship, he is set to make his debut on the PGA TOUR at the Memorial.

This week’s Sponsor Invites include Billy Horschel, victor of the Corales Puntacana Championship earlier this year, Matt Kuchar, winner of this event in 2013, former FedExCUp champion Brandt Snedeker, and Alex Noren.

Tournament Information:

• Dates: June 6th, 2024 – June 9th, 2024
• Location: Dublin, Ohio, United States
• Course: Muirfield Village Golf Club
• Course Type: Parkland
• Par: 72 (4x 3’s / 10x 4’s / 4x 5’s)
• Length: 7,569 yards (Long)
• Format: 72-hole stroke play
• Greens: Bentgrass .090”
• Fairways: Bentgrass .350”
• Rough: Kentucky blue / rye / fescue 4”
• Bunkers: 68
• Water Hazard(s): 13 (In-Play 13)
• Average Green Size: 5,000 sq. ft. (Small)
• Stimpmeter: 13.0 ft. (Fast)
• Purse/ Winner: $20,000,000 /$4,000,000
• FedEx Cup Points: 700
• Field: 80 Players
• Cut: Top 50 and Ties + Any Player within 10 shots of the Lead – 36 Holes
• Playoff Format: Sudden Death (18, 18, 10, 14 and 18 again repeatedly)
• Historic Cut Line:
  • 2023: +3
  • 2022: +2
  • 2021: +2
• Scoring Average:
  • 2023: 73.52 (+1.52), Rank 5 of 49
  • 2022: 73.06 (+1.06), Rank 8 of 50
  • 2021: 72.97 (+0.97), Rank 10 of 51

Course Architect:

• Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus (1974)
• Recent Renovations:
  • 2024:
    • No. 16 – The tee box was moved 30 yards to the players’ right to straighten the hole and take the pond on the left out of play for well-played tee shots. A bunker at the right front corner of the green was removed and replaced by a slope.
  • 2023:
    • Nos. 16 and 17 – Relocation of the Course Maintenance Compound created room for tee boxes to be moved back on each hole. The Tournament yardage increased on No. 16 to 220 yards and on No. 17 to 503 yards. The course’s total Tournament yardage increased to 7,571 yards.
  • 2021:
    • The course underwent its most extensive renovation since it opened as greens were rebuilt, recontoured and resodded, tees, fairways and rough were regrassed, and bunkers were excavated and rebuilt with uniform depths of sand. The Tournament course was lengthened by 151 yards – to 7,543 – and more than 80 trees were planted to ensure for a proper succession over time as older trees decline and die.
    • No. 1 – Tees were moved forward and to the left to decrease the dogleg, a new green was built 17 yards behind the previous one, and fairway was added right of the green to feed balls to the green. Bunkers right of the fairway were moved left and closer to the green, making the carry over the last bunker 345 yards. Bunkers were built left and short right of the new green.
    • No. 2 – The Tournament tee was moved back 8 yards, and 5-10 feet of the front left portion of the green was removed to allow for a better view into the left greenside bunker.
    • No. 3 – Tees were moved to the right and down the hill to bring the creek more into play on the tee shot. Water also will be more in play on the approach because the bunker in front of the green was removed and the green shifted forward to the water’s edge. A fairway pad was added left of the green as a bailout.
    • No. 4 – The hole plays 10 yards longer than previously after the back bunker was removed and more green added. The green is now more than 150 feet long and the hole measures more than 230 yards. The green was recontoured to add pin positions on the right half of the green, nearer the bunkers.
    • No. 5 – The Tournament tee was shifted forward and left to decrease the dogleg. Beyond the landing area, the fairway was removed to discourage long hitters from trying to cut the dogleg with their tee shots. A smaller, more strategic green was built about 20 yards behind and left of the previous one to make bailout shots to the right more difficult. The hole plays 16 yards longer than previously.
    • No. 6 – A new fairway bunker complex was built to create a more challenging tee shot either over or between the new bunkers. A portion of the green was re-contoured to add potential pin areas.
    • No. 7 – The challenge of hitting the par-5 green in two was enhanced by several changes. The left fairway bunker farthest from the tee was moved more into the fairway, and a bunker was added right of the landing area, to reduce the margin for error on tee shots. The Tournament tee was moved back 7 yards, a new green was built 20 yards behind and left of the previous one, and four bunkers were placed left and right in front of the green. Fairway replaced a bunker behind the green to potentially bring a wooded ravine into play for shots hit over the green.
    • No. 8 – A new back tee was built to increase the length of the hole by 15 yards, and the pitch on the right side of the green was reduced to allow for pin positions closer to the bunker.
    • No. 9 – The right half of the previous back bunker was filled and 20 feet of green added. The pitch along the back of the green was reduced to create more pin areas.
    • No. 10 – Fairway bunkers were moved closer to the landing area for long hitters. A new, larger green was built to the left of the previous one and offers more pin areas.
    • No. 11 – The back tee was moved back 23 yards and the green was shifted about 20 feet to the left, allowing golfers to go for the green with their second shot without having to hit over trees along the right side of the hole.
    • No. 13 – More trees were added beyond the left fairway bunker to increase the risk for golfers playing their tee shot over the bunker to try to get a big kick down the fairway.
    • No. 15 – The tee was moved back 37 yards and the first landing area was lowered 15 feet and shifted left, bringing the creek on that side more into play. Bunkers were added to the right side of the first landing area to further squeeze the tee shot. The second landing area was regraded to be more receptive to layup shots. A hill right of the green was removed and a new section of green added back and right of the existing green, which will bring an expanded creek more into play on second and third shots. Two bunkers were built to separate the new section of green from the water.
    • No. 16 – The green was recontoured to be more receptive to tee shots. The hole ranked as the toughest in the Tournament six times in the 10 years after Nicklaus redesigned it before the 2011 Memorial.
    • No. 17 – The fairway was narrowed and all fairway bunkers rebuilt and repositioned so the hole better fit in with the character of the rest of the course. The green was recontoured to add pin area in the front half and so the back left now pitches toward the front rather than away from it.
    • No. 18 – Pitch was removed from the back and front of the green to add pin area to each. Shots hit to the back of the green no longer will automatically gravitate toward the Tournament’s traditional “Sunday pin.”
  • 2020:
    • Nos. 8, 11 and 15 – New championship tees were built on the holes and increased the yardages of each. The 8th was lengthened by 25 yards, to 210. The 11th grew by 15 yards, to 582. The 15th added 30 yards, to 559. The changes increased the total length of the golf course to 7,462 yards.

Comparable Courses & Greens:

• Comparable Courses:
  • Torrey Pines Golf Course – Farmers Insurance Open – RESULTS
  • Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge – Arnold Palmer Invitational – RESULTS
  • Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) – Valspar Championship – RESULTS
  • Quail Hollow Club – Wells Fargo Championship – RESULTS

• Designer Link (Jack Nicklaus (1974)):
  • Tahoe Mountain Club (Old Greenwood) – Jack Nicklaus (2004) – Barracuda Championship
  • PGA WEST (Nicklaus Tournament Course) – Jack Nicklaus (1987) – The American Express

• Comparable Location (Dublin, Ohio):
  • TPC Deere Run – Silvis, Illinois – John Deere Classic
  • Detroit Golf Club – Detroit, Michigan – Rocket Mortgage Classic
  • Keene Trace Golf Club – Nicholasville, Kentucky – Kentucky Championship

• Comparable Yardage (7,569 Yards):
  • Quail Hollow Club – 7,558 Yards – Wells Fargo Championship
  • Plantation Course at Kapalua – 7,596 Yards – Sentry Tournament of Champions

• Comparable Greens (Bentgrass .090”):
  • Torrey Pines Golf Course (North Course) – Bentgrass .100” – Farmers Insurance Open
  • Augusta National Golf Club – Bentgrass .125” – Masters Tournament
  • TPC Craig Ranch – Bentgrass .100” – THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson
  • Colonial Country Club – A-4 bentgrass .100” – Charles Schwab Challenge
  • TPC Deere Run – L-93 bentgrass .100” – John Deere Classic
  • Keene Trace Golf Club (Champions Course) – Bentgrass – Kentucky Championship
  • TPC Twin Cities – Bentgrass .110” – 3M Open
  • TPC Summerlin – Dominator bentgrass .125″ – Shriners Children’s Open
  • Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club – Bentgrass – ZOZO Championship
  • Colonial Country Club – 007XL bentgrass .100” – Charles Schwab Challenge

• Comparable Average Green Size (5,000 sq. ft.):
  • Colonial Country Club – 5,000 sq. ft. – Charles Schwab Challenge
  • PGA WEST (Pete Dye Stadium Course) – 5,000 sq. ft. – The American Express
  • Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) – 5,000 sq. ft. – Farmers Insurance Open
  • Spyglass Hill Golf Course – 5,000 sq. ft. – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • TPC River Highlands – 5,000 sq. ft. – Travelers Championship

TV Information (all times ET):

• Round 1: Thursday, June 6th, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 7:15 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 2: June 7th, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 7:15 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 3: Saturday, June 8th, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Golf Channel – 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
  • CBS – 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 4: Sunday, June 9th, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Golf Channel – 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
  • CBS – 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Weather:

• Thursday: Mostly Sunny 81 F, 15 mp/h W, 57% Humidity, 16% Chance of Rain
• Friday: Partly Cloudy 75 F, 16 mp/h WNW, 51% Humidity, 24% Chance of Rain
• Saturday: Mostly Cloudy 77 F, 14 mp/h WNW, 55% Humidity, 17% Chance of Rain
• Sunday: Partly Cloudy 79 F, 11 mp/h WNW, 57% Humidity, 24% Chance of Rain

Course/ Tournament History:

Established in 1976 by golf icon Jack Nicklaus, the Memorial Tournament was conceived to create a premier PGA Tour event that pays homage to the sport’s heritage while offering top-tier competition. Held at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a course designed by Nicklaus himself, the inaugural tournament saw Roger Maltbie clinch victory in a thrilling sudden-death playoff against Hale Irwin. Thanks to Nicklaus’ vision and the course’s challenging yet picturesque layout, the event swiftly gained renown, drawing elite players from across the globe.

Throughout its storied history, the Memorial Tournament has upheld a tradition of honoring golf’s legends. Each year, the tournament pays tribute to a revered figure who has left an indelible mark on the sport, such as Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Arnold Palmer. This cherished custom reflects the tournament’s dedication to preserving and revering golf’s illustrious legacy. Over the years, the tournament has witnessed numerous unforgettable moments, including Jack Nicklaus claiming victory in his own event in 1977 and Tiger Woods’ dominant reign, capturing the title five times between 1999 and 2012.

In 2024, the PGA TOUR Signature Events consist of eight limited-field tournaments featuring top players, offering increased prize money and FedExCup points (700 points to the winner). Previously referred to as “Designated Events” in 2023, these tournaments are typically invitational with a 120-player field. However, this year’s Memorial Tournament, which is one of these Signature Events, only includes 73 players.

Among the Signature Events are three player-hosted tournaments—The Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer presented by Mastercard, and the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. These events have a 36-hole cut to the top 50 and ties, along with any player within 10 shots of the lead. Additionally, the player-hosted events feature redistributed prize money, with 20 percent awarded to the winner ($4 million), up from the previous 18 percent. The remaining five Signature Events will not have a cut and will continue to award 18 percent of the prize money to the winner.

Muirfield Village Golf Club stands as the realization of founder and designer Jack Nicklaus’ visionary ambition. Acquired in 1966, construction on the course commenced on July 28, 1972. Spanning 220 acres, including an expansive 11-acre practice range, the original 18 holes measured 6,678 yards but now extend to 7,569 yards.

Formally dedicated on May 27, 1974, the club saw its inaugural exhibition match between Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf. Nicklaus’ impressive score of 66 set a course record that endured until 1979. The Columbus Pro-Am on August 11, 1975, marked the club’s first official event, preceding the debut of the Memorial Tournament in May 1976.

Situated in Dublin, Ohio, Muirfield Village Golf Club was conceptualized and crafted by Jack Nicklaus, a luminary in golf history. Inspired by Muirfield, Scotland, where he secured his inaugural Open Championship victory in 1966, Nicklaus aimed to fashion a premier golfing destination challenging to elite players yet enjoyable for all skill levels. With its meticulously designed layout, featuring undulating greens, strategic bunkers, and rolling terrain, Muirfield Village swiftly earned acclaim as a world-class course. Its distinction was further elevated upon becoming the esteemed host of the Memorial Tournament just two years after its inauguration.

Since its inception, Muirfield Village has continuously evolved to uphold its status as a premier golfing destination. Under the personal oversight of Jack Nicklaus, the course has undergone numerous renovations and updates, ensuring it remains relevant while staying true to its original essence.

Following the 2020 Memorial Tournament, Muirfield Village Golf Club closed its doors for a significant renovation. Every green complex underwent redesign, bunkers were enlarged and deepened, and some greens were relocated. Notable changes were implemented on the fifth and fifteenth holes, while the twelfth and fourteenth remained untouched. Nicklaus described this renovation as his “final bite at the apple,” suggesting it would be the last major overhaul during his lifetime.

Muirfield Village has hosted esteemed golf events, including the 1987 Ryder Cup and the 2013 Presidents Cup, further solidifying its place in golf history. Renowned for its commitment to excellence and as the proud host of the Memorial Tournament, Muirfield Village is revered in the golfing world for its challenging layout and picturesque landscape.

• Most Tournament Wins:
  • 5, Tiger Woods (1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2012)
• 72-Hole Record (Event):
  • 268, Tom Lehman (1994)
• 18-Hole Record (Event):
  • 61, John Huston (Round 2, 1996)

Course Guide/ Scorecard:

Originally crafted by Jack Nicklaus in 1974, Muirfield Village Golf Club features a Par 72 layout, comprising four Par 3s, ten Par 4s, and four Par 5s.

In terms of length, Muirfield Village Golf Club is one of the longer courses on the Tour measuring 7,569 yards. It ranks 5th out of 44 courses in length. The fairways are on the wider side, ranking 21st of 44, with the average fairway width being 32.0 yards. The average green size is roughly 5,000 square feet which is on the smaller side when compared to the other courses on the PGA Tour. Bunkers aren’t a factor here as there are only 68 which ranks as the 18th fewest of 44 courses.

The four Par 3’s range between 180 yards and 218 yards. In terms of stats, three of the Par 3’s range between 200-225 yards. In the last edition of this event, all of the Par 3’s had a scoring average over par.

No. 4, 210 Yards, Par 3: The first par 3 offers the same tee shot as before, with the only difference being that the green has been widened about three paces. The back bunker has been removed and the green now stretches farther back, so the tee shot plays significantly longer. This green went from one of the smallest on the golf course to arguably the largest. The pin variance will leave golfers playing a middle iron to a long iron into the back of the green. There are a couple of deep bunkers on the left, and those sort of protect the ball from getting away from the hole and into the steep drop-off. The bunkers on the right still offer a great challenge.

No. 8, 200 Yards, Par 3: The tee shot should be about a 6- or 7-iron for most of the players, maybe an 8-iron at times, depending on where the pin is located on the green. The problem before the latest renovation was that the old green was built on top of an older green. So we eliminated both versions and created a new green. At the same time, we rebuilt the bunker on the right. The build-up on the right side of that bunker made for an impossible shot at times. Now, the grade has dropped a little and makes for a much more playable bunker shot.

No. 12, 180 Yards, Par 3: Depending on the pin, the choice here is either a short iron into the left side of the two-tiered green or take one more club to find the right side of the green. Obviously, the tee shot must cover the large lake which also guards the right side as well. The back bunker is no bargain and is not a place you want to be.

No. 16, 218 Yards, Par 3: Patrons might not notice the difference in the 16th hole, but players certainly have. After we redesigned the hole prior to the 2013 Presidents Cup, it just didn’t play like I wanted or what the Memorial field liked. The green wouldn’t hold shots, especially on the back left. It turned out that the left side pitched away from you, and that should not have been the case. So, we took eight inches from the middle of the green and added eight inches to the left. Now, although golfers are using the same club as before, the green runs toward them and not away from them, and thus holds shots better.

There are ten Par 4’s at Muirfield Village Golf Club with the majority (six) of those holes ranging between 450 and 500 yards. No. 14 is the shortest Par 4 listed at 360 yards with the longest being No. 17, playing 503 yards. In terms of scoring average, the toughest Par 4 on the course last year was No. 18 (+0.398).

No. 3, 392 Yards, Par 4: We moved the tees on the third hole down the hill to the right about 20 yards to give you more of a look up the creek bed that runs up the left side of the hole and right to the green. Also, from the prior tee, you found yourself looking right into the houses on the right. The play off the tee is a long iron or 3-wood into position, although some players will play driver. The green has been enlarged a little, with the bunker on the right removed. The entire green now feeds into the water, although it is a little flatter and softer, especially in the middle, with more pin placements than before. On the approach shot, the right side of the green is now covered with water, so the left side of the green is obviously the preferred play.

No. 9, 417 Yards, Par 4: Most players in the field will hit a driver or 3-wood, depending on how aggressive a fellow wants to be off the tee. But it’s the approach where things have changed and get more interesting. We basically eliminated the back-left of the green, and at the same time we lengthened the green along the right playing down to the water. We changed the back right bunker—almost cutting it in half—so we could add some space to provide another pin placement farther right on the green. With the left of the green reduced, we don’t have as many pin locations as we used to, but we have a few nice cupping options on the front of the green, near the water. The same elements come into play—you have the water front and right of the green, and an awkward chip from the back running toward the water.

No. 14, 360 Yards, Par 4: I believe this is one of the best short par-4s in the game of golf. Because of that, we made no changes whatsoever in the design. It is still a drivable par 4, if the player so chooses, but the penalties are obviously severe. Most would play a long iron off the tee, and a 9-iron or wedge into the green. The penalties are obvious, with the potential of missing into the water up the right or putting the ball into the bunkers on the left, which means you’re left with a very difficult up and down. It’s truly a fun hole to play.

No. 18, 480 Yards, Par 4: The 18th hole, a strong dogleg right, has the same tee shot, with most of the players going with 3-wood and leaving themselves a middle to short iron into the green, but they have to avoid the creek on the left and bunkers at the corner of the dogleg on the right. Before the renovation, we had only one pin position on the back left of the green. So, we softened that area and lengthened it out with less pitch, so the ball doesn’t run up there and just come back.

There are four Par 5’s at Muirfield Village Golf Club, No. 5, No. 7, No. 11 & No. 15. They all played under par in 2023, despite being some of the longer par 5’s on Tour. The easiest hole on the course last year was No. 15 with a scoring average of 4.539.

No. 5, 547 Yards, Par 5: The fifth hole is actually shorter than before. After moving the tee down and to the left, we knocked down the hill on the right for better visibility off the tee. The creek still splits the hole, forcing a decision off the tee. I would say that 95 percent of the players—maybe even more—will hit the ball down the fairway on the left side, probably with a 3-wood. There will be the occasional player who will try to take it over the water, leaving himself with a short iron into the green. Have at it! It is there for the taking, if you want it, but the penalty is severe. The green, which has been moved back 30 yards and to the left, is a bit smaller and narrower and is protected by a bunker front left and two little ones on the right. The more aggressive you get, the tougher the third shot. If you lay it back for a wedge third shot, you are looking right up the green. If you try to get a little more aggressive and get up closer to the green, it could be good, but if you go long, the pitch is over a bunker to a green running towards the water.

No. 7, 582 Yards, Par 5: The tee shot is the same, though we added 5-6 yards, and demands a drive in between the four fairway bunkers. The green has been moved back and left and has a little bit more undulation in it. The same opening exists in the front, but you have an up-and-over putt to the left side of the green. Some fairway has been added to the back side of the green, so if a ball is hit too far, rather than just sit in rough just behind the green it will instead roll down a slope into a fairway pad. I think it is bit more fun to play, though perhaps a little more difficult.

No. 11, 588 Yards, Par 5: Players face the same tee shot, with the creek on the left and bunker on the right. If you fit a driver between the two and hit it long, you can get home in two. If you want to play it as a three-shot par 5, the players might go hybrid, iron and wedge into the green. The green was moved to the left to avoid the trees on the right. Before the renovation, the trees would hang out there, and players would sometimes have to slice a shot into the green, which isn’t the play that should be required. The green is more of a bowl, meaning if you miss it long or to the right, the chip is a little more severe coming down the hill into the green. Hit the green in two, and there are a lot more opportunities for eagles here.

No. 15, 561 Yards, Par 5: We made major changes during the renovation, and, thus, changes the way the hole is played. We took the fairway, dropped it about 20 feet, and moved it left to bring the creek bed on the left side into play. We added four bunkers on the right to take up the elevation change and provide transition from the trees on the right down to the fairway. Although the second shot from the fairway is pretty much the same, you can see where your shot could land if you lay up and then how you can play into the green. The green has been dropped a bit and moved to the right. The water hazard at the front of the green has been expanded on the right side, with two little bunkers between the water and the green. But if your ball misses the green to the right, it should find the water hazard. It is a tough chip from the left or behind the green. We will see a lot of eagle and birdie chances here, but also a fair amount of 6s and 7s.

Featured/ Signature Hole(s): 12, 16, 18

For a hole-by-hole overview of the course, you can click the following link.

Key Statistics:

Per DataGolf, this is the favoured skillset at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

• Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
  • Success this week will hinge on players’ ability to position themselves effectively off the tee. While the course’s considerable length underscores the significance of distance, precision holds equal importance. Each of the past five winners ranked 10th or better in SG: Off the Tee amongst the field.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Xander Schauffele
    • Jordan Spieth
    • Ludvig Aberg
    • Collin Morikawa
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Viktor Hovland
    • Wyndham Clark
    • Sungjae Im
    • Shane Lowry

• Strokes Gained: Approach
  • Having a strong iron game will be important this week if players want to succeed at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Four of the past five winners ranked 12th or better in SG: Approach amongst the field.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Corey Conners
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Akshay Bhatia
    • Si Woo Kim
    • Xander Schauffele
    • Russell Henley
    • Seamus Power
    • Sahith Theegala
    • Justin Thomas

• Strokes Gained: Around the Green
  • The average green size at Muirfield Village Golf Club is 5,000 sq. ft., much smaller than the PGA Tour average. Players will undoubtedly miss greens this week so they’ll need to rely on their short game. Four of the past five winners ranked 5th or better in SG: Around the Green amongst the field.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Hideki Matsuyama
    • Collin Morikawa
    • Alex Noren
    • Denny McCarthy
    • Tommy Fleetwood
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Lucas Glover
    • Si Woo Kim
    • Taylor Moore
    • Christiaan Bezuidenhout

• Good Drives Gained
• Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
  • Collin Morikawa
  • Tony Finau
  • Sepp Straka
  • Lucas Glover
  • Scottie Scheffler
  • Austin Eckroast
  • Tommy Fleetwood
  • Tom Hoge
  • Xander Schauffele
  • Shane Lowry

• Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass)
  • The green complexes at Muirfield Village Golf Club are Bentgrass .090”.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Denny McCarthy
    • J.T. Poston
    • Viktor Hovland
    • Matt Fitzpatrick
    • Harris English
    • Justin Rose
    • Max Homa
    • Keegan Bradley
    • Wyndham Clark
    • Sahith Theegala

• Par 3 Scoring: 200-225 Yards (x3)
  • Three of the four Par 3’s at Muirfield Village Golf Club range between 200-225 Yards.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Ludvig Aberg
    • Harris English
    • Viktor Hovland
    • Akshay Bhatia
    • Russell Henley
    • Tom Kim
    • Adam Schenk
    • Emiliano Grillo
    • Xander Schauffele
    • Thomas Detry

• Par 4 Scoring: 450-500 Yards (x6)
  • Six of the ten Par 4’s at Muirfield Village Golf Club range between 450-500 Yards.
  • Leaders in Par 4 Scoring 400-450 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Tom Hoge
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Xander Schauffele
    • Viktor Hovland
    • Lucas Glover
    • Ludvig Aberg
    • Hideki Matsuyama
    • Collin Morikawa
    • Jordan Speith

• Par 5 Scoring: 550-600 Yards (x3)
  • Three of the four Par 5’s at Muirfield Village Golf Club range between 550-600 Yards.
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Thomas Detry
    • Xander Schauffele
    • Billy Horschel
    • Cam Davis
    • Taylor Moore
    • Nick Dunlap
    • Justin Thomas
    • Cameron Young

• Bogey Avoidance Gained
  • Muirfield Village Golf Club ranks among the most challenging courses on the PGA Tour. Patience will be key this week as players navigate the layout and capitalize on limited scoring chances. Throughout the event, players must strive to minimize any black numbers scores on their cards.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Xander Schauffele
    • Rory McIlroy
    • Tommy Fleetwood
    • Hideki Matsuyama
    • Denny McCarthy
    • Sepp Straka
    • Alex Noren
    • Ludvig Aberg
    • Ben Griffin

• Proximity Gained: 200+ Yards
  • Below is the approach shot distribution chart from last year’s event (via DataGolf). Most approach shots come from the 200+ yard range at a volume much higher than the PGA Tour average.

• Leaders in Proximity Gained: 200+ Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
  • Xander Schauffele
  • Akshay Bhatia
  • Hideki Matsuyama
  • Patrick Cantlay
  • Max Homa
  • Byeong Hun An
  • Kurt Kitayama
  • Lee Hodges
  • Matt Fitzpatrick
  • Rory McIlroy

• Comparable Courses and Event History
  • Looking at the Data Golf Course History Tool, prior experience at the Muirfield Village Golf Club has proven to be advantageous.

• Leaders in this category in the last (Multiple Events Played):
  • Patrick Cantlay (SG: Total – 56.62)
  • Jordan Spieth (SG: Total – 39.62)
  • Si Woo Kim (SG: Total – 35.67)
  • Xander Schauffele (SG: Total – 34.62)
  • Scottie Scheffler (SG: Total – 32.98)
  • Rory McIlroy (SG: Total – 23.75)
  • Max Homa (SG: Total – 21.67)
  • Denny McCarthy (SG: Total – 19.81)
  • Shane Lowry (SG: Total – 18.79)
  • Rickie Fowler (SG: Total – 18.03)

The Field:

This year’s Memorial Tournament will feature a total of 73 competitors.

Here is the current basis of qualification for each entrant this week:

• Top 50 players from the 2022-2023 FedExCup Playoffs and Eligibility Points List (50)
  • The top 50 players from the prior season’s FedExCup points list through the TOUR Championship are eligible
    for all Signature Events during the current season.
• Next 10 – 10 highest ranking players from the current season’s FedExCup Points List (not already exempt above)
  • The Aon Next 10 includes the top 10 players on the current FedExCup point list, not otherwise exempt via a higher priority category, through the tournament before the next Signature Event.
• Swing 5 – Five players earning the most FedExCup points in the swing of events (Charles Schwab Challenge & RBC Canadian Open)
  • The Aon Swing 5 includes the top five FedExCup point earners who accumulate the most FedExCup Points during the swing of tournaments between Signature Events.
  • The top five players that accrue the most points during the swing of events between Signature Events, and who are not otherwise exempt via a higher priority category, are eligible via this category.
• Tournament winners of full-field events (if not already captured above)
  • Players who win a PGA TOUR tournament during the current year (excluding Additional Events) are eligible to participate in the remaining Signature Events that year, if not otherwise exempt via a higher priority category. (i.e., Aon Next 10 or Aon Swing 5)
• Four (4) Sponsor Exemptions
  • Each Signature Event has a certain amount of sponsor exemptions they can grant to players who are not otherwise eligible. Sponsor exemptions are earmarked for PGA TOUR members.
• One (1) exemption for the Jack Nicklaus Award Winner—2024 Division I Collegiate Player of the Year
• Any PGA TOUR Member in the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking (if not already captured above)
• The Next 10 / Swing 5 / OWGR players will fill in on Monday of Tournament week.

• Previous Winners in the Field (Event):
  • Viktor Hovland (’23), Billy Horschel (’22), Patrick Cantlay (’21, ’19), Hideki Matsuyama (’14), Matt Kuchar (’13), Justin Rose (’10)

• Debutants in the Field (Event):
  • Jackson Koivun, Jake Knapp, Ludvig Aberg, Matthieu Pavon, Nick Dunlap

• Players with ties to Ohio in the Field:
  • College:
    • Corey Conners – Kent State
    • Mackenzie Hughes – Kent State
    • Taylor Pendrith – Kent State

• Notable Withdraws/ Changes:
  • IN: Jackson Koivun (Nicklaus Award Spot)
  • IN: Alex Noren (Sponsor)
  • WD: Robert MacIntyre -> IN: Davis Thompson (Aon Swing 5)

To see the full field for this event and how they qualified, you can click the following link.

The Odds:

Here are the current favorites in this week’s event and a summary of their recent form and course history.

Scottie Scheffler (+360) has dominated the PGA Tour recently, claiming victory in four of his last seven starts. His recent performances include a T8 finish at the PGA Championship and a T2 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Having participated in this event three times before, he secured 3rd place finishes in both 2021 and 2023.

Rory McIlroy (+800) displayed solid form with a T4 finish at the RBC Canadian Open. Prior to that, he won two out of his last three starts on the PGA Tour. McIlroy boasts an impressive track record at the Memorial Tournament, making his thirteenth appearance and finishing inside the top 20 on eight occasions.

Xander Schauffele (+900) secured his first Major Championship victory at Valhalla last month. Returning to action after this milestone win, Schauffele has notched eight top-10 finishes throughout his career. In the Memorial Tournament, he has participated six times, securing top-20 finishes on four occasions.

Collin Morikawa (+1400) has showcased stellar performances lately, finishing T4 at the PGA Championship and 4th at the Charles Schwab Challenge. This marks Morikawa’s fifth appearance in the Memorial Tournament, with his best result coming in 2021, where he lost in a playoff to Patrick Cantlay.

Viktor Hovland (+1800) enters as the defending champion of this event. Despite not securing a victory on the PGA Tour this season after winning the TOUR Championship last season, Hovland exhibited improved form recently, finishing 3rd at the PGA Championship.

Ludvig Aberg (+1800) will make his tournament debut this week. While he came close to victory in several events this season, including runner-up finishes at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Masters Tournament, Aberg faced challenges in his last start, missing the cut at the PGA Championship. He was battling a knee injury and has taken some time off for recovery so we’ll see how he looks this week.

Patrick Cantlay (+2500) has won this event twice, in 2019 and 2021. Despite struggling this season with only two top-10 finishes, Cantlay remains a contender in the Memorial Tournament.

Justin Thomas (+2500) has shown promising form in recent events, finishing T5 at the RBC Heritage, T21 at the Wells Fargo Championship, and T8 at the PGA Championship. This will be Thomas’ tenth appearance in the Memorial Tournament with his best finishing coming in 2017 where he finished T4.

To see the most up-to-date odds, you can click the following link.

Projected Final Score:

• 72 Hole Winning Score: 276.5 / -11.5 (Over -110 / Under -110)

The winning score of the Memorial Tournament has been below 276.5 (-11.5) for three of the past five years. However, last year when Viktor Hovland won, the winning score was 281.

To place a bet at Superbook on the Projected Final Score of the Winner, you can click the following link.

Playoff Props:

• Will There Be A Playoff? (Yes +300 / No -400)

Since 2014, the Memorial has ended in a playoff seven times (2023, 2021, 2018, 2016, 2015, and 2014).

To place a bet at DraftKings on the Playoff Prop, you can click the following link.

Hole-in-One:

• Will There Be A Hole-in-One? (Yes +130 / No -165)

Last year, there were no holes-in-ones. In 2022, there was one hole-in-one which was on No. 16.

To place a bet at BetMGM on the Hole-in-One Prop, you can click the following link.

Facts and Figures:

• Six of the past seven winners had finished T5 or better in one of their five previous starts (except Patrick Cantlay in 2021)
• Nine of the last ten winners had played in this event at least once before winning (except Hideki Matsuyama in 2014)

Recent Horses for Courses (Event):

Recent Donkeys for Courses (Event):

Previous Winners Scores, Prices, and Strokes Gained (Rank at Tournament):

• 2023: Viktor Hovland (-7)
  • Price: 20-1

• 2022: Billy Horschel (-13)
  • Price: 60-1

• 2021: Patrick Cantlay (-13)
  • Price: 22-1

• 2020: Jon Rahm (-9)
  • Price: 22-1

• 2019: Patrick Cantlay (-19)
  • Price: 18-1

Previous Winners Incoming Form (Last 5 Starts):

• 2023: Viktor Hovland
  • T16 – Charles Schwab Challenge (PGA)
  • T2 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • T43 – Wells Fargo Championship (PGA)
  • T59 – RBC Heritage (PGA)
  • T7 – Masters Tournament (MAJ)

• 2022: Billy Horschel
  • MC – Charles Schwab Challenge (PGA)
  • 68 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • 2 – Zurich Classic (PGA)
  • T21 – RBC Heritage (PGA)
  • 43 – The Masters (MAJ)

• 2021: Patrick Cantlay
  • T23 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • MC – Wells Fargo Championship (PGA)
  • T11 – Zurich Classic of New Orleans (PGA)
  • MC – RBC Heritage (PGA)
  • MC – The Masters (MAJ)

• 2020: Jon Rahm
  • T27 – Workday Charity Open (PGA)
  • T37 – Travelers Championship (PGA)
  • T33 – RBC Heritage (PGA)
  • MC – Charles Schwab Challenge (PGA)
  • CANCELLED – THE PLAYERS Championship (PGA)
  • T3 – WGC-Mexico Championship (PGA)

• 2019: Patrick Cantlay
  • T3 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • MC – Zurich Classic of New Orleans (PGA)
  • T3 – RBC Heritage (PGA)
  • T9 – The Masters (MAJ)
  • T24 – WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play (PGA)

Previous Winners Finishes at Event:

2023: Viktor Hovland

2022: Billy Horschel

2021: Patrick Cantlay

2020: Jon Rahm

2019: Patrick Cantlay

Picks (Outrights):

• Collin Morikawa (+1400) – DraftKings
  • Risk 0.58 to win 8.12 Units

• Justin Thomas (+3000) – DraftKings
  • Risk 0.27 to win 8.10 Units

• Max Homa (+5500) – FanDuel
  • Risk 0.15 to win 8.25 Units

• Sam Burns (+5500) – FanDuel
  • Risk 0.15 to win 8.25 Units

• Sepp Straka (+7000) – FanDuel
  • Risk 0.12 to win 8.40 Units

Total Risk on Outrights: 1.27 Units

Picks (Top 20):

• Russell Henley (+110) – BetMGM
  • Risk 1.00 to win 1.10 Units

Russell Henley secured his fourth PGA Tour victory last year at the World Wide Technology Championship, ending a five-year dry spell since his last win at the 2017 Shell Houston Open. Throughout this season, he has showcased consistent performance with several top-five finishes, entering this week’s event in strong form, having finished T23 or better in each of his last three starts. Notably, earlier this year at Bay Hill, a course comparable to Muirfield Village, Henley secured a T4 finish.

This marks Henley’s eighth appearance at Muirfield Village, with his most notable performance occurring during his tournament debut in 2013, where he finished T6. Although he encountered difficulties in subsequent visits, missing the cut three times in five trips, last season saw Henley deliver a solid performance, finishing T16 in the Memorial Tournament.

Henley’s skill set aligns well with the demands of this course. His precise iron play and adept short game have been particularly commendable in recent events. While he may not boast significant distance off the tee, his accuracy provides a strategic advantage, especially on this course. With his current form, skill set, and prior success at Muirfield, Henley is poised to secure a spot inside the top 20 this week.

• Byeong Hin An (+138) – BetMGM
  • Risk 1.00 to win 1.38 Units

Byeong Hun-An has been on the cusp of victory at Muirfield Village, narrowly losing in a playoff to Bryson DeChambeau in 2015. Across his eight previous appearances in Dublin, Ohio, An boasts five top-25 finishes at this renowned venue. Despite encountering challenges with his putting last season, resulting in a T24 finish in this event, An arrives this week in stellar form, securing top-5 finishes in two of his last three events. While he faced some struggles in his most recent start at the PGA Championship, finishing T43, the characteristics of this week’s course should complement his exceptional ball-striking ability.

• Lee Hodges (+275) – BetMGM
  • Risk 1.00 to win 2.75 Units

Lee Hodges arrives at this week’s event in impressive form, with recent finishes of T24 (Wells Fargo Championship), T12 (PGA Championship), and T12 (Charles Schwab Challenge) in his last three starts. Making his second appearance at Muirfield Village, Hodges debuted in the tournament last season, securing a T12 finish. His skill set aligns well with the demands of this course, particularly his strong play off the tee and on approach shots. While putting has posed challenges for him in the past, Hodges has shown improvement in this aspect, gaining strokes in putting in each of his last three starts. Additionally, his short game has seen enhancements, further enhancing his prospects for success this week.

Total Risk on Top 20s: 3.00 Units

Nationality Prop (Top Englishman):

• Matthew Fitzpatrick (+175) – DraftKings
  • Risk 1.00 to win 1.75 Units

Tommy Fleetwood has been enjoying a solid streak since the Masters, with no finish outside the top 30 in his last three starts. Despite this recent form, he has struggled in his two prior appearances at the Memorial Tournament, missing the cut both times. Notably, Fleetwood’s last participation in this event was in 2017, predating the major renovation undertaken four years ago.

Justin Rose endured a challenging stretch, missing three consecutive cuts from the Arnold Palmer Invitational to the Masters. However, he has shown signs of a resurgence, making the cut in his last four events, with a T6 finish at the PGA Championship being the standout performance. Although Rose clinched victory in this event in 2010, his recent results at Muirfield Village have been less promising, with a missed cut in his last appearance in 2020.

Matthew Fitzpatrick emerges as a strong contender this week. Despite an inconsistent season, hindered by a neck injury, he appears to be fully recovered. Fitzpatrick has competed in the Memorial Tournament five times before, achieving his best result in 2020 with a 3rd place finish. Additionally, he demonstrated resilience with a T9 finish at Muirfield Village last season after missing the cut at the PGA Championship, a scenario mirrored this week. Fitzpatrick’s well-rounded skill set suits the course, particularly his proficiency on Bermudagrass greens and adept long iron play, which should be advantageous on the elongated course layout. While he has faced challenges with putting in the past, his comfort on Bermudagrass greens offers optimism for his performance this week.

Total Risk on Props: 1.00 Units

As always, all of my placement bets are through BetMGM as they’re one of the only books without dead-heat rules. If you’d like to bet these placements at BetMGM, you can get up to $1500 in Bonus Bets if you don’t win if you’re a first-time user. Must Be 21+. Gambling Problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER.

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Total Risk on the Memorial Tournament: 5.27 Units 

Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.