The 2019 Memorial Tournament: PGA Golf Odds and Predictions
Memorial Tournament Dates and Location
This year’s tournament takes place from Monday May 27th to Sunday June 2nd.
The Memorial is one of five “invitationals” on the PGA Tour so the field is 120 instead of the usual 156 for a regular Tour event. It usually draws a great field because Muirfield Village is a world-renowned course and guys want to honour Jack Nicklaus by teeing it up. He grew up in the Columbus area and starred at Ohio State. The Golden Bear also designed the course, which is a par 72 measuring nearly 7,400 yards. Muirfield Village has hosted both the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.
While it is a strong field, world No. 1 Brooks Koepka opted not to play off his repeat victory at the PGA Championship two weeks ago. He’s preparing for the U.S. Open, which tees off on June 13 at Pebble Beach and in which Koepka is the defending champion. Dustin Johnson also skipped this week.
The Memorial Tournament Betting Favourites
Rory McIlroy is the +900 favourite. He finished tied for eighth last year at 11 under, four shots behind the leaders. McIlroy’s nine Top 10s this year are most on the PGA Tour.
Tiger Woods is +1200. He has won this tournament a record five times, last in 2012. Tiger’s next win will be No. 82 all-time on the Tour, which would tie Sam Snead’s record. Woods missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Patrick Cantlay is +1300 off his T3 at the PGA Championship. He was fourth at the Memorial last year.
Justin Rose and Matt Kuchar are each +1600, with Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth both +1800. Rose won this tournament in 2010 and has two second-place finishes. Kuchar has 10 Top-15 finishes in his last 11 visits and won in 2013. Thomas hasn’t played since the Masters due to injury. Spieth had a tough start to this year but has had back-to-back Top 10 finishes on Tour.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau is +3400 but struggling of late. He beat Byeong Hun An and Kyle Stanley in a playoff last year. Columbus resident Jason Day is +2200 to win the event for the first time.
Canadian Golfer Odds
Adam Hadwin is +12800 as is Corey Conners. Hadwin finished MDF last year at 1 over and comes off a T29 at the PGA Championship. Conners didn’t play last year. He was T31 last week.
No Canadian has won this tournament. Mike Weir was a co-runner-up in 2008.
The Memorial Tournament Predictions
Back McIlroy and Tiger for Top 10s, but the winner is big-hitting Gary Woodland at +3400. He usually plays well here and was T4 back in 2016.
