Golf Memorial Tournament Preview

Tiger Woods is the very short price favourite at 12/5 (BETVICTOR) to win the Memorial Tournament this weekend. The short price is understandable as Woods is in good form having won the recent Players Championship while he has won five times previously at this venue including last time out. Woods can quite clearly win this event and as such the strategy maybe to take players in the betting without Woods market.

One such player I like the look of is Matt Kuchar at 14/1 (GENERAL) as the American finished second at the crowne Plaza invitational at Colonial last weekend. He has finished in the top ten on his last four visits to this venue and ranks highly in the key catagories of scrambling, strokes in gained putting and in adjusted scoring. This course, like most Jack Nicklaus designed courses, is less about driving accuracy and rather more focused on hitting greens and scrambling well.

Others who could go well are Adam Scott (14/1-GENERAL) as he in great form this season including victory in the US Masters. This venue should hold no fear for him either as he has two top five finishes at Muirfield Village. Justin Rose at 20/1 (BETVICTOR) is another who goes well here with victory here in 2010 and many other top 15 finishes. The Englishman ranks fourth on money won here and must be respected. Rory McIlroy also features highly in the betting at 12/1 (GENERAL) and has good form here having finished tied tenth here in 2010 before improving to fifth in 2011. On the downside though the Northern Irishman missed the cut here last year and has failed to make the cut in his last three events.

The second player to side with is Chris Kirk who can be backed in betting without Woods at 80/1 (SKYBET/BETVICTOR). Kirk has not missed any of his last 11 cuts on the tour and has two top five finishes to his name in 2013. Kirk ranks third in the scrambling stats which we mentioned earlier is very important at this venue and he came a respectable 25th here last year.

The European Tour event this week is the Nordea Masters from Stockholm, Sweden. Swede Alexander Noren is the joint favourite (16/1-GENERAL) alongside Italian Francesco Molinari (GENERAL) who has secured top ten finishes on his last two starts. Both men deserves respect especially Noren won here in 2011 and has played this golf course numerous times before. Throw in the fact that he has two top ten finishes from his last four starts and he ticks all the boxes. Matteo Manassero should also be respected at 20/1 (GENERAL) as he won the PGA Championship in Surrey last week.

Others who must command respect are Swede Peter Hanson who can be backed at 20/1 (GENERAL), Austrian Bernd Wiesberger at 25/1 while Englishman Ross Fisher can be backed at 33/1 (sportingbet/CORAL).

Those looking for a bit of value at a big price might want to consider Mikko Ilonen at 33/1 (GENERAL). The Finn was third here last year and has been going well this year especially on the putting greens. Mikko topped the putting average at Wentworth en route to finishing in 12th. Ilonen before that had two second place finishes in his last three starts and appeals at EW value in this open field.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Matt Kuchar, EW betting without Woods in Memorial Tournament, 14/1 (GENERAL)
SILVER: Mikko Ilonen, EW to win the Nordea Masters, 33/1 (GENERAL)
BRONZE: Chris Kirk, EW betting without Woods in the Memorial Tournament, 80/1 (SKYBET/BETVICTOR)

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29/05/2013     © Frixo 2026