The PGA Tour moves on to Jack Nicklaus' tournament, The Memorial, at Muirfield Village in Ohio.
Nicklaus is the host this week for what has always been one of the better quality events on Tour and, while we are missing a few star names, there's a decent field assembled, headed by new World No.1 Luke Donald. The Englishman is a contender every time he tees up these days and with a record of 15 top-10s in his last 17 starts worldwide, it's no wonder bookmakers are chalking him up at no bigger than 10/1 (Stan James) this week. Phil Mickelson is his nearest rival in the betting at 14/1 (bet365), closely followed by a group of classy Americans.
The course that Jack built is a real test from tee to green, although the fairways are quite forgiving and that gives players a margin for error off the tee. The closing two holes provide a tricky finale and the 18th, which has a creek running down the left-hand-side and a well-protected green, is particularly challenging. Despite recent rain, the Bent Grass greens are still running at 13 on the stimpmeter and the expert putters will come to the fore.
My Three Against The Field:-
Rickie Fowler @ 40/1 Blue Square
Donald is impossible to ignore in his current rich vein of form and he has perfectly acceptable course record with top-15 finishes on his last two visits. However, after two weeks in the spotlight at Wentworth and in Spain, he must surely be feeling the effects and could be in need of a rest. I would never lay him but, at the same time, he's no bet for me at just 10/1. Nor am I rushing to back Mickelson at 14/1 as, apart from that win in Houston, he's been largely disappointing this season.
Instead, I'm going to take a chance on Fowler; last year's runner-up and one of the best ball strikers on Tour. His driving can be a bit erratic at times for sure but the fairways here are more generous than the ones he's used to and he always putts well on Bent Grass, as evidenced by his play at Quail Hollow, Torrey Pines (last season) and here 12 months ago. A first-round 63 on his latest start at Colonial was as good as it gets and while he didn't go on from that (finished 16th), I reckon it's only a matter of time before he posts that elusive first win. The 40/1 on offer is standout so grab it while it lasts.
Stewart Cink @ 40/1 Paddy Power
At the same price, Cink merits each-way support in an event he's consistently performed well in - his form figures since 2001 read 4-9-6-40-45-12-5-30-8-8. Granted, each-way backers in that time would be out of pocket but there are grounds for thinking he is going to have a bigger week than normal. For one, he's in good form with top-20s in his last three starts, including ninth at Quail Hollow, and might have done better but for some errant drives. That will be less of a problem this week and as a result, that should allow him to make plenty of birdies, especially as he knows the greens so well. In short, he's a class player with a great record here and is overpriced.
Brandt Jobe @ 150/1 @ bet365
My final pick is more speculative and could be best played in the top-20 market (4/1 with Skybet) or on the spreads but I can't resist a little of the 150/1 in the outright market. The American is a veteran now but is playing some of his best golf for a long time with his tied-20th at last week's Byron Nelson making it five top-20s in his last 10 starts. No big deal, you might say, but his season stats - seventh in Total Driving and 23rd in GIR - make him a nice fit this week and he did finish fourth on his last visit here in 2006.
Recommended Bets:-
Rickie Fowler 1pt each-way @ 40/1 Blue Square
Stewart Cink 1pt each-way @ 40/1 Paddy Power
Brandt Jobe 0.5pt each-way @ 150/1 bet365
