GOLF tips? Louis Ross (@KingLouis2105) has previewed this week's Memorial Tournament and highlighted some big prices.
The Memorial Tournament | Thursday – Sunday | Sky Sports
Sixth and 22nd last week for the main picks. Thankfully these few months of flooded courses and players being allowed to lift and clean their balls is over. Those conditions have inevitably thrown up a few odd results. Back up to Ohio where fast greens and temperatures in the 80s await.
The Memorial, or Jacks Tournament as it is known, is played on the Nicklaus designed course at Dublin, Ohio. Moderately long at 7352 yards, this Par 72 classical set up is traditionally used as a warm up for the US Open in two weeks time.
Tight fairways, penal rough and incredibly difficult green complexes. It's always a surprise that we get winning scores of 12 to 16 under. Make no mistake though, this is a course for top players. Every winner for nearly 25 years has been in the world's Top 75 players and most in the Top 50.
Although the set up here should favour big hitters, the unforgiving rough means that driving accuracy, scrambling and bogey avoidance are key factors. Course management and ball striking are rarely qualities held by the bombers on Tour. I have a selection who is currently in the Top 20 of all those categories as well as Strokes Gained Tee to Green.
Hideki Matsuyama is the defending champion and a player who has appeared here many times this year. Missing only one cut this year, Hideki's form has been consistent on set-ups that really haven't suited him. Top 20's at Sawgrass and Colonial as well as winning all three group matches at the World Matchplay in San Francisco. 25/1 with Coral is fair.
Justin Rose has really good form here and I am a firm believer in ‘Horses for Courses'. Five Top 10s in his 10 appearances read very well and he won impressively in 2010. Apart from Jordan Speith, the Englishman is possibly the best player in the field. Jordan Watch …. 8/1 on a course where's he's been 19th & 63rd? No thanks ….. Rose is a generous looking 20/1 with Bet365.
More than once this season, a selection of mine has followed a decent week with a very good one. Russell Henley was a slightly disappointing 22nd last week, but I am prepared to keep faith with one of the best putters on Tour. His sixth on debut here was an extremely positive sign and Henley is a guy with a big future. 24th at Sawgrass, 22nd at Colonial and 22nd last week is better than 90% of the field will have done recently. 60/1 with Bet Victor.
Another name that is always on my list for these kind of tests is Kevin Na. Runner up to Matsuyama in 2014, he certainly shows a liking for the course. Na can be a frustrating guy to watch. He can be a frustrating guy to tip as well. I have used the phrase ‘always capable of a 59' to describe him in the past, but when he has a bad day, he's equally capable of an 81. A hugely talented golfer though, he could lead this from Hole 1. 45/1 with Coral is way over priced and I am happy to take him on at those odds.
Brooks Koepka Top 10 odds of 23/5 stood out this week, as does 11/2 for Ben Martin. Daniel Berger is another to keep an eye on in the Top 10 and Top 20 markets.
I managed to find a 60/1 chance who lost in a play off at the Irish Open last week, please message me for thoughts on the Nordea Masters. Good luck all.
Best Bets
The Memorial Tournament – Hideki Matsuyama each way (25/1 Coral)
The Memorial Tournament – Justin Rose each way (20/1 BetVictor)
The Memorial Tournament – Russell Henley each way (60/1 BetVictor)
The Memorial Tournament – Kevin Na each way (45/1 Coral)
