The bear is in the shadows. And that’s one of the reasons the PGA Memorial Tournament, which tees off at 7:20 a.m. Thursday near Columbus, Ohio, is always intriguing.
The course at Muirfield Village was designed by PGA legend Jack Nicklaus, whose nickname is “the Golden Bear.” The layout is challenging. And the presence of Nicklaus always draws some of the biggest names in golf.
This week is no different.
Defending champion Jon Rahm is the favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook with a futures price of +1150. But the field also includes other superstars, such as Justin Thomas (+1500), Rory McIlroy (+1650), Collin Morikawa (+1650), Jordan Spieth (+1650) and Bryson DeChambeau (+1850).
Spieth has finished in the top 15 in eight of his last 10 tournaments. DeChambeau won at Muirfield in 2018 and Morikawa has three PGA wins at Nicklaus-designed courses.
So the top of the field has a few things working in its favor.
Top 20 to win PGA Memorial Tournament in DraftKings odds
The complete list of the top 20 players according to DraftKings odds is as follows:
- Jon Rahm: +1150
- Viktor Hovland: +1500
- Justin Thomas: +1500
- Rory McIlroy: +1650
- Collin Morikawa: +1650
- Xander Schauffele: +1650
- Jordan Spieth: +1650
- Patrick Cantlay: +1700
- Bryson DeChambeau: +1850
- Louis Oosthuizen: +2200
- Hideki Matsuyama: +2600
- Corey Connors: +2650
- Matthew Fitzpatrick: +3000
- Joaquin Niemann: +3500
- Patrick Reed: +3500
- Scottie Scheffler: +3500
- Keegan Bradley: +4500
- Billy Horschel: +4500
- Sam Burns, Charley Hoffman, Cameron Smith: +5000
Beyond futures bets, golf odds in PA are also available on group betting, players to make/miss the cut, and a number of player props as well.
Place your bet on the best Cowboy, Bulldog, Longhorn, or Gator
One of the more interesting props at DraftKings allows you to bet on which player will finish best among alums from select colleges. For example, the top Oklahoma State player is priced as follows:
- Viktor Hovland: +110
- Rickie Fowler: +350
- Talor Gooch: +450
- Alexander Noren: +550
- Charles Howell III: +650
- Wyndham Clark: +1000
Wagers are also available on players from Georgia, Texas, and Florida among others.
BetMGM betting stats for 2021 PGA Memorial Tournament
BetMGM also has player specials for the Memorial Tournament, as well as betting insights that may help inform your PGA wagers.
Line movement at BetMGM Sportsbook PA:
- Justin Thomas: +1800 to +1600
- Collin Morikawa: +2000 to +1800
Highest Ticket %:
Jordan Spieth (+1600): 7.7%
Collin Morikawa (+1800): 6.7%
Bryson DeChambeau (+1600): 5.5%
Highest Handle %:
Jordan Spieth (+1600): 8.3%
Justin Thomas (+1600): 5.9%
Charley Hoffman (+5000): 5.6%
Biggest Liabilities:
Jordan Spieth: +1600
Charley Hoffman: +5000
Collin Morikawa: +1800
Spieth sees similarities to Augusta in the Muirfield Village course
As far as course strategy is concerned, Spieth provided some pretty good analysis in a Yahoo! Sports preview.
“As different as it looks, it plays pretty similar to Augusta,” Spieth said. “It’s a second shot golf course where it’s not the toughest off the tee, but playing to certain sides of the fairways have big advantages on angles to the pins. It’s tough to get the ball below the hole. Same as Augusta, unless you’re in the right spot where you’re attacking, and take your medicine if you’re not. “
DraftKings Pitch and Putt will pay off with daily fantasy riches
Daily fantasy players will also have some good options for PGA action this week. DraftKings’ Pitch and Putt contest offers a million-dollar prize pool and a first-place prize of $250k for a $20 entry fee. And the Drive the Green contest pays out $50k to first with a $5 entry fee.
Over at FanDuel, the featured contest is the PGA Eagle, which offers a $150k prize pool and $30k to first for an entry fee of $7.77.
The action begins Thursday morning. Television coverage will be provided by the Golf Channel on Thursday and Friday and then shared with CBS once the weekend arrives.
As always, it figures to be an interesting tournament.
Because big-time players are on the course.
And the bear is in the shadows.
Lead image credit: AP Photo/Ron Jenkins
