PGA First Look: Memorial Tournament

The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

Editor’s Note: Get the scoop on PGA Odds for the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village over at RotoGrinders Sports Betting!

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Event Preview

Kevin Na took down last week’s Charles Schwab Challenge. He was locked in all Sunday and was really never in trouble at any point in the round. Even though he’s made a lot of enemies in the DFS world with his many withdrawals over the years, he seems like a genuinely good person. The winner of the tournament got a 1973 Dodge Challenger, which Na gave to his caddy. The scene on 18 with his daughter running up to give him a hug was fun to watch as well. Even though he didn’t win, Jordan Spieth made just as many headlines after he was dropping 50-foot putts left and right. Everyone has an opinion on Spieth, but this is the most confident he’s been on the greens in nearly two years on tour.

This week we head to Dublin, Ohio for the Memorial Tournament. Muirfield Village Golf Club is owned by Jack Nicklaus, which is why this is often called Jack’s tournament. The course itself is a Par 72 that measures 7,392 yards. It features bentgrass throughout (greens, fairways, and rough) and is loaded with bunkers (77 in total). Water is in play on 11 holes, so big numbers can pile up quickly if you don’t bring your A-game when it comes to ball striking. There are four par fives on the course that are all scoreable, so golfers will need to take advantage of these holes in order to find themselves in contention on Sunday.

On average, these fairways are 36 yards wide. These are the largest fairways that golfers have seen in months on tour (outside of Trinity Forest at the Byron Nelson), but the rough is penal enough that I’m giving an edge to total driving over pure distance. This is known as a second-shot golf course, which is why strokes gained approach is going to be the biggest weight in my stat model this week. As you can see in the graph below, greens are hard to hit here and scrambling is much tougher than an average tour event. Around the green is volatile week to week, but you’ll have to scramble for par often here, so I’ll include it in my model this week.

Cut Rule: Top 70 and ties move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event:Bryson DeChambeau (2018), Jason Dufner (2017), William McGirt (2016), David Lingmerth (2015), Hideki Matsuyama (2014)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Bogey Avoidance
3) Strokes Gained Off the Tee
4) Strokes Gained Around the Green
5) Proximity Blend

Sports Betting Card

It’s been a while since we’ve hit a winner with the bets. Both of the outrights last week (Rahm and Casey) missed the cut. Jim Furyk did hit his top 20 bet, but couldn’t hang on to a top five finish, which would have really turned the tides for the week of bets. Overall, we had seven units in play and only brought three back.

YTD: 4 wins, -5 units

Outright Bets

Patrick Cantlay 16/1
Tony Finau 22/1
Emiliano Grillo 66/1

Top 5 Bets

Lucas Glover 12/1
Jason Kokrak 12/1
Rory Sabbatini 12/1

Top 20 Bets

Lucas Glover 3/1
Jason Kokrak 3/1
Byeong Hun An 4/1
Kevin Streelman 4/1

Salaries, PGA Odds, and Course History (2014-2018)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Sal OWGR Odds DK % FD % FDRFT % Cuts 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Rory McIlroy $11,500 $12,000 $18,100 4 9 0% 0% 0% 3/3 8 500 4 500 15
Tiger Woods $11,200 $11,700 $17,500 5 12 0% 0% 0% 2/2 23 500 500 71 500
Justin Rose $10,800 $11,500 $16,800 3 16 -33% 0% -33% 2/3 6 500 500 2 77
Rickie Fowler $10,600 $11,300 $16,300 10 19 -75% -17% -17% 2/5 8 2 88 72 77
Patrick Cantlay $10,200 $11,000 $16,600 15 16 40% 67% 25% 2/2 4 35 500 500 500
Jordan Spieth $9,900 $11,400 $16,100 29 21 -83% -120% -38% 4/5 94 13 57 3 19
Tony Finau $9,600 $10,800 $16,000 13 21 -43% 9% 0% 4/4 13 40 11 8 500
Matt Kuchar $9,400 $10,900 $16,300 12 18 25% 40% 0% 5/5 13 4 4 26 15
Justin Thomas $9,300 $11,600 $16,500 6 17 44% -67% 0% 3/5 8 4 117 81 37
Jason Day $9,200 $11,200 $16,100 16 20 20% -14% 0% 4/5 44 15 27 72 37
Hideki Matsuyama $9,100 $10,700 $16,000 32 20 18% 25% 10% 4/5 13 45 103 5 1
Xander Schauffele $9,000 $11,100 $15,900 9 26 0% -50% 0% 0/1 86 500 500 500 500
Bryson DeChambeau $8,900 $10,600 $15,500 8 32 -8% -8% -8% 2/2 1 500 38 500 500
Gary Woodland $8,800 $10,400 $15,500 22 32 -7% -7% -15% 4/5 23 49 4 81 57
Adam Scott $8,700 $10,300 $15,500 26 31 13% 13% 0% 3/3 35 31 500 500 4
Louis Oosthuizen $8,600 $10,000 $14,500 20 54 -6% 6% -6% 1/1 13 500 500 500 500
Henrik Stenson $8,500 $10,200 $14,500 44 51 6% 0% 0% 1/1 13 500 500 500 500
Rory Sabbatini $8,300 $9,800 $14,200 118 61 -6% 0% 0% 2/3 44 500 500 24 95
Jason Kokrak $8,200 $9,400 $13,700 66 70 -26% 14% 8% 1/4 119 35 88 101 500
Phil Mickelson $8,100 $10,100 $14,300 23 59 10% -6% 0% 5/5 13 22 20 65 49
Marc Leishman $8,000 $9,800 $14,000 24 68 0% -11% 0% 5/5 62 15 11 5 37
Emiliano Grillo $7,900 $9,700 $14,200 58 62 9% 5% -5% 3/3 23 40 11 500 500
Kevin Kisner $7,900 $9,400 $13,900 27 73 -23% 4% -23% 4/5 74 6 100 8 46
Lucas Glover $7,800 $9,600 $13,700 76 69 4% 4% 12% 5/5 52 45 33 68 69
Kyle Stanley $7,800 $9,300 $13,800 52 71 -4% 17% -9% 3/3 2 6 500 500 74
Sung Kang $7,700 $9,100 $13,400 60 79 -19% 9% -3% 2/2 57 75 500 500 500
Billy Horschel $7,700 $9,700 $13,800 42 72 0% -24% -13% 2/4 86 85 500 11 15
Tyrrell Hatton $7,700 $8,700 $13,800 40 68 15% 48% 4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Keegan Bradley $7,600 $9,200 $13,500 35 78 -3% 6% -3% 4/5 23 99 8 8 37
Luke List $7,600 $9,300 $13,700 61 76 0% 3% -12% 1/2 37 77 500 500 500
Matthew Fitzpatrick $7,600 $9,100 $13,400 34 81 -10% 6% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jim Furyk $7,500 $9,500 $13,400 50 75 13% -8% 7% 3/5 94 99 52 5 19
Rafael Cabrera-Bello $7,500 $9,200 $12,700 37 99 -31% -31% 7% 1/2 500 91 52 500 500
Hao-Tong Li $7,500 $8,800 $13,400 39 86 -6% 17% -13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Byeong Hun An $7,400 $9,700 $12,900 59 92 -9% -81% 0% 3/3 2 25 11 500 500
Kevin Streelman $7,400 $8,400 $12,700 129 102 -23% 22% 4% 4/5 44 13 8 18 95
Charley Hoffman $7,400 $9,000 $13,300 72 91 -6% -3% -9% 2/3 94 45 500 500 19
Jason Dufner $7,400 $8,600 $12,900 194 95 -11% 17% -3% 4/5 101 1 33 24 19
Aaron Wise $7,300 $8,900 $13,100 68 90 8% 8% 0% 0/1 86 500 500 500 500
Charles Howell $7,300 $9,500 $12,900 54 89 10% -35% 8% 4/4 65 500 48 31 57
Ryan Moore $7,300 $9,600 $12,900 79 97 -5% -71% -8% 4/5 13 99 48 18 19
Joaquin Niemann $7,300 $13,000 139 121 -33% -41% 1/1 6 500 500 500 500
Jhonattan Vegas $7,200 $8,200 $12,600 80 113 -9% 22% 0% 1/2 40 500 115 500 500
Peter Uihlein $7,200 $8,600 $13,300 119 85 23% 30% 3% 2/2 5 25 500 500 500
Andrew Putnam $7,200 $9,000 $12,800 49 96 7% -11% 7% 1/1 500 500 500 68 500
Abraham Ancer $7,200 $8,700 $12,900 64 104 -2% -5% -16% 1/1 57 500 500 500 500
Russell Knox $7,100 $12,800 71 109 4% -5% 4/5 44 65 64 18 91
Keith Mitchell $7,100 $9,000 $12,600 56 120 -6% -39% -6% 0/1 120 500 500 500 500
Adam Hadwin $7,100 $8,400 $12,600 77 109 2% 16% 2% 3/4 74 104 11 57 500
Pat Perez $7,100 $8,700 $12,400 91 133 -15% -29% -2% 4/4 70 19 500 57 69
Alexander Noren $7,100 $8,300 $12,500 38 121 -9% 11% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Joel Dahmen $7,000 $8,900 $12,500 81 118 6% -26% 4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Cameron Smith $7,000 $8,600 $12,400 33 135 -6% -17% -4% 1/3 94 65 500 106 500
Si Woo Kim $7,000 $8,700 $12,300 55 125 -2% -26% 5% 2/3 29 119 74 500 500
Kiradech Aphibarnrat $7,000 $8,600 $12,600 45 115 8% -2% -2% 2/2 13 500 500 500 62
Austin Cook $7,000 $8,000 $12,100 153 152 -25% 6% -2% 0/1 101 500 500 500 500
Corey Conners $6,900 $8,500 $12,400 83 138 0% -12% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Talor Gooch $6,900 $8,000 $11,800 162 180 -30% -7% 3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
J.B. Holmes $6,900 $8,300 $12,200 51 146 -7% -7% -7% 3/4 13 114 4 500 75
Harold Varner $6,900 $7,800 $12,000 166 156 -16% 15% -2% 2/2 500 19 57 500 500
Danny Lee $6,900 $8,300 $12,200 112 161 -19% -19% -19% 2/4 117 49 52 81 500
Sam Burns $6,800 $8,200 $12,200 107 139 6% 3% -2% 1/1 81 500 500 500 500
Branden Grace $6,800 $8,500 $12,200 53 150 -2% -24% -11% 1/2 52 500 500 500 114
Matt Every $6,800 $8,500 $12,200 214 140 5% -16% -4% 0/3 500 104 500 90 91
Martin Kaymer $6,800 $7,600 $12,000 186 165 -13% 17% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Beau Hossler $6,800 $8,000 $12,000 105 163 -11% 0% -6% 1/1 44 500 500 500 500
Sungjae Im $6,700 $8,700 $12,200 69 137 16% -33% 2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Stuard $6,700 $8,200 $11,800 174 189 -15% -28% -1% 4/5 70 52 69 61 95
Bud Cauley $6,700 $8,100 $12,000 192 150 6% 2% 3% 2/3 113 25 38 500 500
Max Homa $6,700 $8,100 $12,000 95 157 0% -5% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Nick Watney $6,700 $8,500 $12,200 147 147 7% -22% -9% 3/3 57 500 500 65 55
Bill Haas $6,700 $8,000 $11,900 314 181 -12% -9% -1% 4/5 57 25 76 18 8
Aaron Baddeley $6,600 $7,900 $11,900 188 203 -10% -8% -8% 1/3 500 99 88 500 37
Brian Gay $6,600 $8,100 $11,700 131 185 -4% -19% 3% 1/1 44 500 500 500 500
JT Poston $6,600 $7,700 $11,700 171 193 -7% 4% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chesson Hadley $6,600 $7,700 $11,600 94 226 -18% -6% -6% 2/3 40 500 500 49 105
Danny Willett $6,600 $7,600 $12,000 85 172 3% 15% -9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Anirban Lahiri $6,600 $7,900 $11,500 252 213 -14% -12% 2% 3/3 37 2 61 500 500
Matt Jones $6,500 $12,000 189 175 8% -12% 2/3 500 500 20 40 116
Joost Luiten $6,500 $7,900 $12,000 73 142 24% 19% 8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Peter Malnati $6,500 $11,000 259 296 -28% -3% 0/1 500 500 76 500 500
J.J. Spaun $6,500 $7,600 $11,500 148 220 -8% -1% 0% 0/1 101 500 500 500 500
Brian Harman $6,500 $8,100 $12,000 96 174 9% -13% -11% 1/3 500 104 33 500 103
Patton Kizzire $6,500 $7,800 $11,000 103 295 -27% -28% -2% 2/3 74 99 38 500 500
Kyoung-Hoon Lee $6,400 $8,000 $11,500 255 226 -1% -25% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Adam Schenk $6,400 $7,400 $11,100 236 285 -14% -7% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Scott Stallings $6,400 $7,500 $11,400 136 209 4% 6% 8% 1/2 500 500 500 90 65
Cameron Champ $6,400 $7,900 $11,700 110 193 8% -5% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Landry $6,400 $7,300 $11,100 140 263 -7% 2% 2% 1/1 65 500 500 500 500
Justin Suh $6,400 $7,100 $11,100 269 -9% 6% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Steve Stricker $6,300 $8,100 $11,600 461 230 2% -39% -10% 3/3 500 40 500 40 6
Michael Thompson $6,300 $7,500 $11,200 117 227 3% -1% 3% 1/1 500 500 500 500 37
David Lingmerth $6,300 $7,700 $11,600 560 263 0% -12% -12% 5/5 29 15 27 1 49
Ryan Fox $6,300 $7,500 $11,200 88 284 -5% -10% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brice Garnett $6,300 $7,000 $10,600 175 318 -14% -2% 3% 1/2 62 500 500 500 95
Robert Streb $6,300 $7,200 $10,900 296 303 -12% -7% -1% 4/4 80 500 20 18 28
Vaughn Taylor $6,200 $7,500 $11,500 190 206 16% 7% 5% 1/2 500 73 88 500 500
David Lipsky $6,200 $7,800 $11,600 121 219 13% -8% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Adam Long $6,200 $7,200 $10,800 108 274 2% 0% 8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Troy Merritt $6,200 $7,200 $11,100 197 272 3% 1% -1% 1/2 500 500 95 52 500
Luke Donald $6,200 $7,400 $11,300 552 241 7% 1% 0% 2/3 500 77 68 500 49
Brendan Steele $6,200 $7,100 $10,900 198 320 -8% -6% -4% 3/4 500 57 20 63 77
Shubhankar Sharma $6,200 $7,100 $10,700 165 350 -11% -9% -3% 0/1 101 500 500 500 500
Sam Ryder $6,100 $8,200 $11,100 184 292 5% -65% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ryan Armour $6,100 $7,200 $10,800 126 311 1% -8% 0% 1/2 23 104 500 500 500
Scott Brown $6,100 $11,000 239 288 6% 0% 2/5 86 91 27 72 13
Carlos Ortiz $6,100 $7,000 $10,700 276 330 -2% -4% -1% 1/3 500 500 103 72 65
Bronson Burgoon $6,100 $7,000 $10,600 185 336 -3% -5% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
K.J. Choi $6,100 $7,000 $10,400 550 425 -7% -9% -2% 3/5 116 67 52 72 28
Ted Potter $6,100 $7,000 $10,400 176 395 -6% -8% -1% 1/1 57 500 500 500 500
Jovan Rebula $6,100 $7,000 $10,100 778 -13% -16% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Boo Weekley $6,000 $7,000 $10,300 914 473 0% -10% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Will Grimmer $6,000 $7,000 $10,100 864 -6% -17% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Ernie Els $6,000 $7,000 $10,400 338 382 3% -7% 0% 1/4 108 500 88 106 19
Norman Xiong $6,000 $7,000 $10,200 602 -3% -13% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Trainer $6,000 $7,300 $10,300 142 564 -2% -23% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Whee Kim $6,000 $7,000 $10,300 226 493 -1% -11% -1% 1/1 29 500 500 500 500
Michael Kim $6,000 $7,000 $10,100 375 700 -4% -15% -1% 0/2 500 104 500 500 77
Alvaro Ortiz $6,000 $7,000 667 -4% -14% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
Site % Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2013 – 2017 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.
Cover Image Credit: USA Today Sports Images

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on X – @RG_Notorious