The latest of the PGA Tour’s designated events takes place this week with a star-studded field descending on Muirfield Village Golf Club for The Memorial Tournament.
A 120-strong field, which includes the leading five players in the world, will be battling it out for glory in the 48th edition of the event that first debuted at the Ohio venue in 1976.
- Collin Morikawa to win and each-way
- Gary Woodland to win and each-way
- Matt Kuchar - Top-20 Finish
Major Winner To Contend
Collin Morikawa had the world at his feet when landing his second Major trophy at the 2021 Open, but he has had to endure a tougher time of things since lifting the Claret Jug and he has failed to add to his CV since.
However, the American has shown positive signs this season and his T10 at the Masters last month was his fourth top-10 finish of the 2022/23 campaign, providing further evidence he is getting somewhere back to his best.
A return to Muirfield Village could provide the 26-year-old with the ideal opportunity to get back into the winners’ circle, as he won the Workday Charity Open in 2020 at this course and then ended up second here in the 2021 Memorial.
It is perhaps no surprise that Morikawa is suited to this layout given the high demand for a strong tee-to-green game. The US star is fifth in SG: tee to green on the PGA Tour this season, while he also leads in SG: approach and sits seventh in both greens in regulation and driving accuracy.
Putting has been the main issue for the two-time Major champion, who is 158th in this department in SG, but there have been encouraging signs with the flat stick over recent weeks and he could challenge this week if he starts rolling in some putts.
COLIN MORIKAWA TO WIN EACH-WAY
American In The Mix
Gary Woodland is also hoping to end his own title drought this week, with his last victory coming at the 2019 US Open, and there have been signs of life in his game.
The American has a couple of top-10 finishes to his name this season and he should be fully refreshed for this assignment, having taken a short break following his missed cut at the US PGA Championship.
Woodland has shown decent form at Muirfield, recording notable finishes of sixth (2011), fourth (2016) and fifth (2020), and some of his stats make for positive reading ahead of his latest trip to Ohio.
The 39-year-old is ninth in SG: off-the-tee and 25th in SG: tee-to-green, while he is 11th in total driving (distance and accuracy combined).
Woodland looking to end title drought
Kuchar To Make His Presence Known
Another player that has shown solid form at Muirfield over the years is Matt Kuchar, whose results at this course read 32-MC-13-10-5-8-2-1-15-26-4-4-13-MC-39-32-45.
The American, whose victory here came back in 2013, has been showing solid form this season and has four top-10 finishes to his name, the most recent of those coming at the Valero Texas Open.
Kuchar ranks 28th in SG: tee to green, so that is a positive heading into Thursday’s opening round, while his short-game has been in good supply as he leads in SG: around-the-green.
