July 9th – 12th, 2020

Muirfield Village G.C., Dubin, Ohio

Par: 72 / Yardage: 7,456

Purse: $6.2 million with $1,116,000 to the winner

Defending Champion: Patrick Cantlay

It’s nine years since Rosey won at Muirfield Village but he is pretty much ALWAYS in contention here as evidenced by four top-10’s since.  The Honma to TaylorMade equipment change story has now run its course and I expect to see a vintage Justin Rose make a statement this week.  Recent best of T3 at the Charles Schwab.

The American version of Justin Rose if you like!  Winner of The Memorial in June 2019 so the defacto defending champion. Ironically didn’t hit his irons great in a T11 at The Travelers last time out because Cantlay, on the PGA Tour, is the greens in regulation king.  Every Nicklaus course has that requirement and the match is perfect.

Not at all fancied by the bookies in recent times but I saw enough in Detroit last week to think Rickie Fowler is back.  Missed his first two cuts after lockdown but looked more like the Rickie we know with 58 greens in regulation on his way to a T12 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.  T14, T8, T2 on his last three visits to Muirfield Village and a super shout each way at 30/1

The man in form coming in off a T6 at The Travelers and T4 last week in Detroit.  Top-20 in all the stats both weeks across driving, irons and putting and a cumulative 9 under par for the par3’s he’s played in the last fortnight.  Top-25’s in his last two visits to Dublin Ohio also says that Armour is way overpriced at 100/1.

Always a danger on courses like this where course management, patience, and prudence are key.  Streelman misses loads of cuts because he simply doesn’t possess the power game for the big courses.  But he sneaks in and grabs the cash the odd time like at Pebble Beach and TPC River Highlands (he finished solo second at both).  Three top-10’s in Muirfield Village in the last eight years including solo 4th in 2019. 

Debut on the course but Wolff comes in with confidence renewed after a solo second last week in Detroit.  Drove it on average 326 yards off the tee there in a slugfest with Bryson DeChambeau and more of the same could reap more rewards this week.