Golf Betting – Memorial Preview/Picks
The French Open odds took Rafael Nadal away from us and we all know what happened to LeBron, but never fear – Tiger Woods is back in golf betting. He’s not just back – he’s ready to win. Let’s preview the more intriguing sportsbook options for this week’s Memorial odds.
Tiger Woods
Golf odds: +275
It’s Tiger’s time for redemption, and it seems likely to happen this week, even though he isn’t playing his best golf at all right now. Why? Muirfield Village Golf Club, host of the Memorial, caters to his strengths and forgives his weaknesses. It’s a long course, giving a bomber like him an advantage. More importantly, though it’s a difficult course (fifth-toughest in 2008), its fairways are easy to hit. Over 70 per cent of drives hit the fairway on par 4s and 5s at the Memorial last year.
Tiger’s biggest problem this season has been his driving accuracy, but the relatively wide Memorial track won’t punish his mistakes the way a course like, say, Sawgrass did. He has history on his side too, having won the tourney three times and cracked the top five six times, so his Memorial odds look darned good.
Kenny Perry
Golf odds: +2000
Everybody off the bandwagon! Week after week, Kenny Perry looks like a great sportsbook pick on paper. Thanks to his phenomenal ball striking, he ranks high in many scoring and accuracy categories and would theoretically be a great Memorial pick given that (a) approach shots are extremely important there and (b) he’s won twice there. However, Perry still hasn’t recovered from the Masters chokejob. The best proof was last week; statistically, he looked like the pick to win at Colonial, where he had lots of past success, yet he finished 34th. He’s simply off his game, so he should be avoided until he gets hot again.
Zach Johnson
Golf odds: +2200
Golf betting fans can’t say enough good things about Zach Johnson, and he’s earned the praise. With two wins and five top-10s in 2009, he’s been one of the Tour’s best. But that doesn’t mean you should pick him this week. Golf betting is all about playing the course matchups, and Muirfield Village doesn’t suit him. Johnson is a short hitter who separates himself from on small, narrow courses. The wider, longer Memorial setup just doesn’t maximize his strengths.
Vijay Singh
Golf odds: +2200
Here’s a nice sleeper pick. He’s scrambling way above his career averages over his last few tournaments, so that’s a huge plus should he get into any trouble on his approaches this week. He’s also heating up, with three straight top-20 finishes, so maybe Vijay has a win in him this season. He’s certainly worth considering over Tiger given his sportsbook value.
Steve Stricker
Golf odds: +3300
Weekly guy-who-won-the-last-tournament pick here. Can Stricker do it again? I doubt it. The Memorial ain’t his favorite place to play – he has just two top-25 finishes in nine starts – and he’s never fared very well against difficult fields. Jack Nicklaus’ tourney has a star-studded cast, as usual, so Stricker may be overmatched.
I’m never a fan of picking Tiger just because he’s playing an event, but this isn’t one of those times. Tiger is the best bet this week simply because this course setup benefits him more than it does any other golfer.
Online wagering pick: Tiger Woods +275
One reply on “Memorial Championship Preview/Picks”
Tiger Woods is a logical choice as he is due if not overdue to win again. The Memorial is a tournament he has won before although it has been awhile. The only other option in my mind is to bet “the field’.