“Jack’s Tournament” is always a fun weekend, with the games top stars all here. Another elevated event with no cut, and the defending champion, Scottie Scheffler, is back in the field. This tournament is always so much fun to watch because all of the games best stars are here. However, Rory McIlroy will not be joining this star-studded field because of reasons we don’t know about yet. The Memorial is played at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Fairways are tight and pristine, greens quick as glass, and there isn’t a blade of grass out of place. Ball striking will be placed at a premium this week because if you miss the fairway, you will pay with the penal rough. Muirfield is a par 72, and can be stretched out to just under 7,600 yards. Tight fairways and tough pin locations means I want some of the best iron players, as well as drivers of the golf ball, this week. Look for the top players to rise to the top!
It pains me to fade him again, but what has he done lately? That answer is not much. Brandt Snedeker has made 7/11 cuts, with one top 10. This being a limited field means the games best will be here, and that is not Brandt Snedeker. According to Data Golf, he’s been losing strokes in every major category except for around the green. If that trend continues, he’s got no chance of contending this week!
Daniel Berger has been quietly putting together a solid season since coming back from an injury years ago. He’s made 11/14 cuts, with two top tens. He is coming off a missed cut at the Colonial, but he lost over two strokes putting to cause that. He’s been consistently gaining strokes off the tee and on approach, which is what I value this week at the Memorial. If you aren’t striking it well, then you have no chance. If Berger can wake his putter up this weekend, then I expect to see his name up on that leaderboard!
Picking Scottie Scheffler to win is no fun these days, but you can’t argue his success. He’s been almost a lock every week for a top 10. He’s made every cut this year, with eight top 10s in eleven events. His heater will continue because he’s the best ball striker on tour, and his B game is better than most players’ A game at the moment. Scottie is going to keep contending, whether we like it or not, and if his putter starts to cooperate more, you can expect more wins to come his way!
Ludvig Åberg is becoming one of my favorite players to watch on tour. He’s got a good demeanor about himself, and seems to carry himself well on the course. Ludvig has made 8/11 cuts this with three top 10s, but he has struggled as of late. The reason I like him this week is because of his ball striking. When he is on, I’d put him in the ranks with Scottie and some of the other greats. His approach and off the tee game led to his missed cut at the PGA, but with over a full week off to practice, I expect Ludvig to have it dialed in, and take home the Memorial Tournament this weekend!
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