Bruce Robertson previews this weeks PGA Tour event, The Memorial Tournament in Ohio.
Venue: Muirfield Village, Ohio
Par: 72
Field: 120
Yards: 7,265
After Keegan Bradleys shock win at 200/1 last week, lets hope we can find a winner on this Jack Nicklaus designed course. The omens are encouraging as the cream tends to rise to the top at the bigger events, and this is one of them. Justin Rose defends his title this week while fellow Englishman and new world no. 1 Luke Donald heads the betting. Surely Donald must be in need of a well earned rest.
The emphasis is on accuracy, even more so this week as wet weather has produced thicker rough. Good ball striking is required and avoiding the water which awaits players on 13 of the holes.
A smaller field than usual, but not short on quality with 6 of the worlds top ten teeing it up.
No.1 Matt Kuchar 20/1 (Ladbrokes)
Kuch has simply got to head the staking plan this week as he loves Muirfield Village. He has finished in the top 20 in the last four years. Despite the high winds that made last week a bit of a lottery, Kuch finished tied sixth.
His stats are excellent and he is now at a stage where you expect him to contend every week. I would rather have 20/1 than Kuch than 10/1 Donald this week.
No. 2 Ryan Moore 40/1 (Bet365, Paddy Power)
Again I like his course form with three top 10 finishes in his last 5 starts. Ryan played in Spain at The World Match play recently and I like players who travel and expe! rience d ifferent courses, tours and events. I think it will set him up for a very good week.
His long game stats are consistently good but he has now improved with the putter.
No.3 Rickie Fowler 35/1 (Bet365, Betfred, Blue Sq)
I thought he was going to get his maiden win here last year until Rose took a firm grip of the event. The talented youngster can take over where he left off and climb the leader board this week.
He has two top 20s in his last three stroke play events but I have been watching him closely and he is at the top of his game and may well be rewarded this week.
No. 4 Bo Van Pelt 50/1 (William Hill, Betfred, Paddy Power)
Regularly over priced by the bookies and under-rated by the experts, Bo looks a great each way prospect in Ohio. He was placed last year at the same price he is this year. However, he had a very good US Masters and finished third in his last event on The PGA tour.
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