Following a lull in the action we appear to be back to full-strength this weekend with the Memorial Tournament promising golf fans a spectacular few days of action. Some of the top names in the sport are out to play, including Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, the latter brimming with confidence following that astonishing effort at Augusta when claiming his fifth green jacket. Here are our top Memorial Tournament betting tips.
As well as a host of famous faces, there’s also plenty of betting value in this one as bookmakers cover a number of exciting markets, including outright winner, first round leader, top-10 finish, top European, top American and to make the cut or not. Will we see Tiger build on recent glory and claim another respected title, will Rory show his idol the way home or will the winner of the Memorial Tournament come from further down the list?
Strong Line-Up in Attendance
The Memorial Tournament was first played back in 1976 and went on to become one of the most admired fixtures on the calendar outside of the majors. It always boasts a strong line-up with the sport’s leading players seeing it as an ideal way to sharpen their tools heading into a busy summer. This year’s renewal will be no different and, as well as McIlroy and Woods, we also have the likes of Justin Rose, Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler in attendance.
Four days of action will begin on Thursday with UK followers able to watch the play live on Sky Sports from 7.30pm GMT. That means punters can keep pace with the progress of their bets or watch the action and get a feel for how things are going before getting their cash down in-play. Major bookmakers keep many of the pre-tournament markets live throughout the weekend, with prices altered to match the flow of play.
That means you can track the early progress of your favourite players before deciding if they deserve your stake money. Eagle-eyed punters may also spot an outsider holding his own in the opening exchanges and thinking him worth an each-way interest before the traders cut his price. At the conclusion of the first-round leader market it becomes second round leader, and so on, so there’s always something to bet on.
It’s Worth Opposing the Favourite
It’s no surprise to see Rory and Tiger dominate the early Memorial Tournament betting but it’s the Northern Irishman who has been chalked up as favourite for the title. He is jolly with every major firm, but you’ll get a better price at Bet365 who are giving customers a cracking 9/1. That’s worth noting if you fancy a punt on McIlroy as most firms are stuck around the 8/1 mark or lower. Those looking for the benefit of an each-way cushion will get 1/4 the odds five places. Some firms are offering 1/5 the odds the best eight home, but their outright prices are tighter, so do your research before getting your cash down to ensure it works for you.
Second favourite is Tiger Woods and the American is sure to attract interest in the betting ring following his success at Augusta which made headlines around the world. The former Memorial champion is 12/1 to return to the top step and you’ll get that price with a host of major bookmakers, including William Hill. Others near the head of the market worth a mention are Patrick Cantlay at 16/1 (Bet365), Justin Thomas 18/1 (William Hill) and Matt Kuchar 20/1 (William Hill).
It’s difficult to go against the favourite as he arrives on the back of a consistent run of form and is sure to feature again at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin Ohio. He hasn’t really set the heather alight when playing this tournament in the past however and has failed to land a blow in recent tour outings. A great player and one more than capable of grabbing the title, but he looks a little short at the current odds and we’d much prefer to go and have a shot at a bigger price.
Tiger Deserves our Attention
Tiger Woods missed the cut at the USPGA Championship and that stuck a pin in the bubble that was created when winning at Augusta. He isn’t back to firing on all cylinders yet and it remains to be seen if he ever will return to the form that saw him dominate the sport. He’s heading in the right direction again, of course, but times have changed and it’s likely we’ll see him grab a win of note here and there before falling under the radar again.
This is an important tournament for Tiger as it’s one he’s more than capable of winning and it’s one that will show us how focussed he is for the summer ahead. A drop in form following that sensational spike is perfectly understandable and we’re more than happy to give him the benefit of the doubt and say Tiger would’ve been working hard to ensure he pushes on from here. We should see Woods improve following the disappointment of missing the cut and there looks to be plenty of value in his current price.
You can back Tiger at 12/1 (Bet365) to win the Memorial Tournament or play one of the many specials offered by bookies. Woods to make a fast start and be first round leader is worth a second look at 25/1 – top price with Unibet – and we wouldn’t put anyone off an interest on that. Those after something a bit smaller to use in their accas will find 3/1 at Unibet on him ending in the top five or 9/1 at Bet365 on our pick being the highest finishing American player. He’s favourite in that market, ahead of Patrick Cantlay at 11/1 with William Hill and Justin Thomas at 12/1 with Bet365.