The world’s top golfers will head to Muirfield Village this week for the 2017 staging of the Memorial Tournament. A cool $8.7 million is at stake for the 120-man field with the champion grabbing not only 500 FedExCup points, but also the $1.566 million top prize. Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this prestigious event and while you’re at it, you can check out our sleeper picks for the 42nd edition of the Memorial Tournament.
Favorites – Dustin Johnson (+550) and Jason Day (+1,200)
It isn’t a complete surprise to see Dustin Johnson and Jason Day installed as favorites to win this week’s Memorial Tournament. Johnson and Day are the two highest-ranked players in the field and they’re both playing some terrific golf of late.
Johnson has been on fire to start the year, posting top-six finishes in seven of his first 10 starts. During this stretch, he managed five consecutive podium finishes, grabbing victories at the Genesis Open, WGC-Mexico and WGC Match Play events. He will look to keep the momentum going at Muirfield Village, the site of his third-place finish here last year.
Day, on the other hand, came close to winning his first PGA Tour event of the year at the Byron Nelson, losing in a playoff to Billy Horschel. It has been a challenging year for the former world no. 1 with his mother battling cancer, but given his form at the Byron Nelson, it looks like Day has finally gotten his game back. The question now is: can he solve the puzzle that is the Memorial Tournament? The Muirfield Village member has fared no better than T27 in eight tries here.
High-Value Sleepers – Matt Kuchar (+3,000) and William McGirt (+7,000)
One golfer who loves playing here at Muirfield Village is Matt Kuchar. The 38-year-old has seven top-15s in the Memorial Tournament since 2007, including a thrilling victory in 2013. Kuchar is playing some solid golf of late as well, nabbing top-12 finishes in each of his last two starts at the AT&T Byron Nelson and Dean & DeLuca Invitational.
Another golfer who’s primed for a huge performance this week is William McGirt. He arrives at this tournament as the defending champion, prevailing in a playoff last year against Jon Curran. Like Kuchar, McGirt’s in fine form as well, recording top-25s in four of his last seven starts. He finished tied for third at last month’s RBC Heritage event.
Long Shot – Vijay Singh
One long shot who can definitely spring a surprise this week is former world no. 1 Vijay Singh. The 54-year-old turned back the hands of time at the Players Championship earlier this month, finishing in a tie for 16th. That’s his best finish in the PGA Tour in years. Singh has had some success in this event in the past, claiming the tournament win back in 1997.
Writer’s Prediction
Dustin Johnson (+550) stamps his class and wins the Memorial Tournament.
