We’re on to “Jack’s Palace” next on the PGA Tour. This event isn’t a major, but it sure is bringing out all the top stars to compete at Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village Golf Club. The tourney runs from June 2-5 in Dublin, Ohio and before you lay a bet on it, you’ll want to read this article in full. That’s because we have complete betting predictions for the 2022 PGA Memorial Tournament and they’re all yours for free!
Who’s Playing At The 2022 PGA Memorial Tournament?
The purse at stake in Muirfield is a whopping $12 million. When that much dough is on the line, the sport’s best golfers will be there — no matter if it’s a major or not. That’s the exact scenario this weekend in Ohio where a who’s-who list of players are playing at the 2022 Memorial Tournament. Elites on the playing list include Patrick Cantlay (the defending champion), Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, and Jordan Spieth. The only top-10 players missing from the list include Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, and Sam Burns.
The Memorial Tourney has been an annual staple for the PGA since 1976, however, this will be only the second event here since the course was vastly overhauled right after the 2020 competition. Nicklaus, not one to fail to innovate, had the course drastically renovated two years ago to challenge modern players. Distance was added, stretching the tournament to 7,609 yards. All green complexes were adjusted to bentgrass too.
In quintessential Nicklaus fashion, the final five holes are the hardest and deserve to be “where champions” are made. No. 16 is a trademark hole of the course, a 200-yard par 3 over water. Then there’s No. 18 with a creek and bunker near the hole, enough danger to sink or make a player’s title hopes.
All in all, this is a special event designed by one of the sport’s greatest ever. That’s why it’s no surprise today’s best players have descended onto Ohio for this one. Of the group, here are the most-favored players to win the tourney outright, per the best betting sites for golf:
You saw the current Vegas odds to win the 2022 Memorial Tourney above, they’re quite scattered — as they should be given the highly competitive field. Due to this, you almost have to “spread the wealth” bet-wise, which is what we’re doing.
One more thing: we typically like offering at least one “longshot” to win a gold tourney. However, we can do no such thing at the Memorial Tournament. Why? Welp, if you look at the list of recent winners, it includes only the elite players. Upset wins are incredibly rare here so it’s best to allocate your betting money on the big names only. We believe the three players below are where you should start:
John Rahm
Rahm is every bit deserving of being the current favorite to win the Memorial Tournament — and our can’t-skip bet of the weekend. This guy is simply “money” at Muirfield. In fact, he should be the two-time reigning champion heading into this one. He’s not because he caught COVID-19 at the most inopportune time last year, while Rahm was 18-under through three rounds (holding a six-shot lead too). He was forced to pull out because of the virus, which led to Cantlay’s playoff win over Morikawa.
Still, we shouldn’t forget how much Rahm was cruising through the 2021 field. It was reminiscent of his 2020 win, which came by three strokes in spite of a two-shot penalty earlier on (he caused a ball to move before a shot). So in other words, Rahm has unfinished business at Muirfield. Plus, he needs a bounce-back performance after a bad outing at the PGA Championship. Playing in a course that he’s dominated two straight years should serve as that springboard he needs to get back in the win column.
We sense Schauffele is being overlooked at the Memorial when he really shouldn’t. Shouldn’t because he checks many of the boxes you’d want out of a sure-fire betting pick.
For one, he’s playing well as of late. With Cantlay, the two won the Zurich Classic last month. He followed that with a fifth-place finish at the AT&T Byron Nelson and then tied for 13th at the PGA. The second thing Schauffele has going for him is a progressively-better streak at the Memorial itself. Here’s where he’s finished the past three times at Muirfield: 14th, 13th, and 11th. All things considered, Schauffele is on the ascent, which makes him a perfect bet.
We’re actually surprised Matsuyama is as long as +2800 to win this event. Have Vegas’ best-betting sites forgotten his past at the Memorial? He won the title here in 2014 and also has a sixth-place finish in 2019. Yes, the course has changed since then, but not enough to completely discount Matsuyama’s decorated history here. His elite ball-striking remains a difference-maker in the field.
And Matsuyama has quietly put together a strong 2022 season. He has two wins and three additional top-10 finishes. This combo makes him a quality bet at these somewhat long odds.
Need a trusted sportsbook for betting on the 2022 Memorial Tournament? The list below is a perfect place to start. Any one of these sites will have up-to-date odds on the tourney, from now until its finale on Sunday (lines will change each day at the conclusion of rounds). Check ‘em out to lock in your Memorial Tournament bets — whether you’re taking our aforementioned advice or going in a completely different direction with your money.
Eric was born and raised in Nevada — the center of gambling in the United States. Throw in his natural interest in sports, and Eric was destined to be a sports bettor.
This came to a head once Eric turned 21. Already a working sports journalist while in college, Eric began betting at his local sportsbook. Despite massive losses (at first), Eric continued to chip away at wagering. Eventually, he got half-decent at it.
Now Eric is a trusted betting analyst. Not only is he skilled at making picks, but also breaking down the state of the industry — legalization, revenue, and innovation.