By: Harry Gagnon
Harry’s PGA Picks for The Memorial and Memorial Prop Bets from Muirfield Village
What: The Memorial
Where: Muirfield Village
Dublin, Ohio
When: July 16-19
After an unbelievable finish last week between Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa, we get to do it all over again from Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. The PGA tour stayed in Dublin due to some schedule scrambling and this week we get to see the return of Tiger Woods. The Memorial will also show off the “hottest” golfer on tour in Bryson DeChambeau who won two weeks ago but took the first Dublin tournament off.
Speaking of showing off, in last week’s picks I gave out Morikawa (+5000) to be the leader after the first round. He was awesome all tournament but especially on Thursday as he hit solid irons and set himself up with great birdie opportunities. Now the pressure is really on yours truly to give it my best shot with a repeat winner. Here are some stats that might help you with other bets during this fantastic tournament that is packed with the top players in the world.
PGA Tour FedEx Cup Standings and PGA Stats to Note
Fed Ex Top 5 in Points Standings
1-1843 Justin Thomas
2-1660 Webb Simpson
3-1592 Sungjae Im
4-1514 Bryson DeChambeau
5-1270 Rory McIlroy
Out of that top 5, Webb Simpson has played in the fewest number of events (eighs) and has two wins this season for a “batting average” of .250. Im is the PGA’s top road warrior and never seems to take a week off (19 tournaments entered).
Leaders in Top 10 Finishes in 2019-20 Season
8-Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau
6-Rory McIlroy, Webb Simpson, Sungjae Im, Gary Woodland
5-Billy Horschel, Byeong Hun An, Harris English, Patrick Reed, Tyrrell Hatton, Daniel Berger, Collin Morikawa
The players on that list have produced 11 victories, six second place finishes and 12 thirds.
Scrambling Leaders
1-Brendon Todd
2-Daniel Berger
3-Bryson DeChambeau
It is no secret that all three of these golfers have won on tour this season. Todd has actually won twice this year while Berger came so close to winning two in a row in June, and DeChambeau enters the Memorial having won his last start and the 2018 Memorial.
Harry’s The Memorial Prop Bets and PGA Matchup Props
First Round Leader
+2300 Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay did finish tied for 7th last week but didn’t seem to get rolling until late on Saturday. He took that late rally and parlayed it into a final round 65. Cantlay is the defending champ in this tournament and he finished 4th in 2018. This is a course he loves and it obviously fits his game. Morikawa was +5000 last week and while Cantlay’s odds aren’t quite as large, it is still worth a shot with a top player who might have finally found his groove to the tune of a 65 this Thursday.
PGA Matchups Props
-140 Justin Thomas
+110 Rory McIlroy
It is tough to pass up plus money with the number one ranked player in the world, but after last week’s ending, Thomas will be determined to play well enough to give himself a shot to win again.
Harry’s PGA Matchup Prop Pick: Thomas
-125 Jon Rahm
-105 Webb Simpson
Rahm hasn’t been playing to the level of what we expect from him while at the same time, Simpson has been spectacular and has two wins on tour this season.
Harry’s PGA Matchup Prop Pick: Simpson
-125 Tiger Woods
-105 Brooks Koepka
Even though Tiger is terrific at Muirfield Village it is his first tournament since the layoff and he could be rusty. Koepka was awful last week and missed the cut, but I don’t expect that to happen for a second straight week.
Harry’s Downer PGA Pick of the Week: Koepka
-160 Marc Leishman
+125 Phil Mickelson
Mickelson, who turns 50 this year, doesn’t seem to have the stamina to hold up for four solid rounds lately. Leishman had finished in the top 15 in four of the last five tourneys in Dublin until he shot 8-over par last week in his final 27 holes. I think the big Australian will bounce-back in a big way.
Harry’s PGA Prop Bet Pick: Leishman
-115 Billy Horschel
-115 Joaquin Niemann
Niemann is an excellent up-and-comer but Horschel plays well here and finished 7th last week thanks to a final round 66. I’m riding the hot club.
Harry’s Pick: Horschel
Harry’s Collection of Top 20 Golfers to Ponder and Memorial Odds
+200 Abraham Ancer
Ancer is 15th on the PGA money list and is ranked 21st in the world
+225 Justin Rose
Rose had a tough time last week but has numerous top 20 tournaments here and has won it in the past.
+225 Jason Day
It was nice to see Day back on the front page of the leaderboard, as he finished in a tie for seventh at Muirfield last week.
Harry’s PGA Betting Prediction for Top 10, Top 5, and to Win the Memorial
Viktor Hovland: +300, +600, +2500
This Norwegian born 22-year-old seems to always be in the mix at every tournament he is in. He has taken over the reins as the best Oklahoma State Cowboy on the tour {sorry Rickie Fowler, Charles Howell III, and Matthew Wolff but it’s true). Hovland finished in third last week and is 4th on tour in eagles. He’s already the 42nd ranked golfer in the world and has three top 10’s this season (and won in Puerto Rico).
Have a great week of watching golf, stay safe everyone and happy betting!!!
