It is just a week until the US Open and the PGA Tour’s top names will be hoping they can have the best possible preparation for the third Major of the year when they head to Dublin, Ohio for the Memorial Tournament.
This is the seventh and penultimate signature event of 2024, which means the big boys will be in attendance, led by world number one Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, who will be looking to build upon the fourth place he posted at the Canadian Open last week.
However, there will be plenty of others who feel they have a realistic chance of emulating Viktor Hovland’s victory at the course 12 months ago.
- PATRICK CANTLAY TO WIN EACH-WAY
- BILLY HORSCHEL TO WIN EACH-WAY
- SAM BURNS TO WIN EACH-WAY
Cantlay Can Triumph Again
Players such as Scheffler, McIlroy and US PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele are expected to be all the rage this week, but one player who should not be discounted is Patrick Cantlay.
It is now almost two years since he won the most recent of his eight PGA Tour titles, but this has proved a happy hunting ground for him over the years.
Cantlay triumphed at this tournament in 2019 and 2021 and also has a couple of other top-ten finishes, not including a seventh spot in the Workday Charity Open when that was held at the Ohio track.
Despite his winless streak, there has been evidence that he perhaps performs best in the strongest company, as illustrated by strong finishes in other signature events - he was fourth at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera and the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town.
So the potential is there and this could be the ideal course to back him to end that barren run.
PATRICK CANTLAY TO WIN EACH-WAY
Horschel Has The Right Credentials
Billy Horschel enjoyed victory at the low-grade Corales Puntacana Championship in April, but this dogged fighter is still capable of playing with the big boys and we could witness another strong performance this week.
The man from Florida will have been delighted with the eighth place he posted in the recent US PGA Championship, which shows he can more than live with the elite, and he has strong Muirfield Village showings to help boost his confidence for this week’s challenge.
Horschel had already finished in the top ten twice before he tasted a four-shot triumph in this one two years ago.
A return to the scene of that triumph, combined with some good recent performances, mean he could defy hefty odds.
BILLY HORSCHEL TO WIN EACH-WAY
Burns Finding Decent Form
Sam Burns has won five times on the PGA Tour and some solid recent performances suggest another triumph may not be far away.
He was tenth in Canada last week, which built upon the 13th he posted at the Wells Fargo Championship and, if his putter is as hot as it can be on occasion, he has a strong chance of challenging at a course where he posted a 16th-placed finish last year.