Predicting a pre-tournament Sportsbook in golf is hard. Bettors can find value, but it’s frustrating when your picks don’t make the cut. I’m here to help.
Every week, I’ll highlight three golfers who have a good shot at winning for the upcoming weekend. This week, it’s the Memorial Tournament.
For a full breakdown of the golf tournament, click here.
Odds courtesy of Sportsbook.
Dustin Johnson (+600)
It says a lot about the type of golf Dustin Johnson has been playing when a T-12 and T-13 run at TPC Sawgrass and Four Seasons marks his first consecutive weeks outside the top 10 in nine months. Johnson was lighting the golfing world on fire prior to his tumble down the stairs at the Masters and it’s only a matter of time before he really heats up again with the U.S. Open almost here.
After all, he did have six top-six finishes in seven of his first 10 starts in 2017 and has produced a top-five finish twice in the last six years at this event while missing only one cut. DJ finished in third place at the Memorial Tournament a year ago and is in prime shape to do it again. The field is relatively strong, but Johnson is my top pick to get back in the winning circle in Texas.
Kevin Chappell (+5500)
Finding the fairway off the tee is imperative at this tournament, and players who are also solid with their irons have a big leg up on the competition. That sets up Chappell well this weekend.
After enduring a horrible stretch in February, Chappell has strung together five consecutive solid outings which saw him gain an average of 4.83 strokes on the field in that span. If he can keep that consistent play going, he should be in contention at the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
William McGirt (+9000)
McGirt, the defending champion, isn’t getting any respect this time around as evidenced by his ridiculously long odds. McGirt claimed the 2016 Memorial Tournament in a playoff over Jon Curran last year after going bogey-free in his final 22 holes. The South Carolina native showed strong poise down the stretch by parring his final four holes to earn his first career PGA Tour victory.
It’s a long shot, and McGirt isn’t exactly a household name despite winning here a year ago, but I’m comfortable with putting a small wager on him in the hopes he can catch lightning in a bottle once again.
