2022 Memorial Tournament PGA Golf Betting Picks

This week Joe Cistaro breaks down the course and golf betting tips for the 2022 Memorial Tournament. Here’s a closer look at golf odds across online sportsbooks.

The PGA Tournament continues the major season with a trip to Jack’s tournament at Muirfield Village.  With the 2021 edition of this event mired in controversy after Jon Rahm’s unfortunate withdrawal, 2022 features an exceptional field two weeks ahead of the US Open.  Will Jon Rahm seek some reparations in the form of a second win at The Memorial Tournament?  Will the PGA see another first-time winner?  Let’s start with this week’s betting odds.  

2022 Memorial Tournament Odds

At the time of this writing –  May 31st – you can find these odds at BetMGM Sportsbook.  The below list features all golfers priced at 50/1 or better.

Here are the recent winners at The Memorial Tournament:

2021 – Patrick Cantlay* (-13)

2020 – Jon Rahm (-9)

2019 – Patrick Cantlay (-19)

2018 – Bryson DeChambeau (-15)

2017 – Jason Dufner (-13)

2016 – William McGirt (-15)

2015 – David Lingmerth (-15)

The event is another 120-man invitational with 65 and ties making the cut for the weekend.  The field is pretty stacked for a non-major event this season with many players still prioritizing Jack’s tournament on the schedule.  

Patrick Cantlay won two of the last three Memorial tournaments even if last year’s victory was shrouded in controversy.  Jon Rahm was cruising to a landslide victory prior to being asked to withdraw as he walked off of the 18th tee.  Cantlay, though, took advantage, defeating Collin Morikawa in a playoff to ignite his ascension to a FedEx Cup victory.  

Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, and Jordan Spieth join the field.  Will Zalatoris makes it three in a row with Cameron Young joining the young contingent after a week off last week.  

Most notably, Scottie Scheffler is giving the rest of the PGA Tour an opportunity this week.  Scheffler almost recorded another victory last week, losing to Sam Burns’ bomb birdie putt in the first playoff hole.  Scheffler rushed off to a wedding and likely will use this time to rest and prep for the US Open.  Let’s preview the course and statistics.

2022 Memorial Tournament Betting Preview

• Course: Muirfield Village
• Date: June 2 – 5
• Par: 72
• Yardage: 7,543
• Greens: Bentgrass

After the 2020 Memorial took place, major renovations began to prepare Muirfield Village for the following year.  As Jon Rahm closed out his 2020 victory, greens were being rolled in the background.  

100 yards of length were added to the course.  Bunkers were updated – there is a lot of sand on this course.  The course is a challenge.  For more information on the renovations, click here.

The sheer length of the course blended with the penal nature of missing fairways makes Muirfield Village a true test.  Recent years proved this to be true and this proved even more true last year for everyone except Jon Rahm.  Depending on the weather, the tournament will likely require the ability of one of the members of the top of the board.  

No surprise, the bulk of the more challenging holes on the course are Par 4’s between the length of 450-500 yards.  The most challenging hole, number 18, is responsible for nearly a 25% bogey rate and will no doubt be a closing test for whoever wins this tournament.  

The Par 3 16th, roughly 200 yards on the card, will be another late test for golfers.  At 20% bogeys, trying to close the round will require incredible shotmaking and, of course, nerves.  

The length will be a detriment to shorter hitters as longer irons will struggle to hold the extremely firm and fast bentgrass greens.  Augusta National seems to be a strong comp because of the importance of the second shot and the creativity required around the greens.  Unlike Augusta, however, missing fairways comes with a big price.  The fairways are generous but must be hit.  We will need to look at Fairways Gained and SG: OTT.  

SG: Approach is paramount as hitting greens is vital.  The course shouldn’t yield a birdiefest but hitting greens and making pars will go a long way.  The occasional birdie will be great.  That said, players who are consistently hitting greens will avoid the trouble around them.  

We should bake in some around-the-green play as well as putting.  Avoiding bogeys will be crucial.  Getting up and down on these firm, fast bentgrass greens will keep players alive to hopefully take advantage of opportunities.  

Speaking of opportunities, SG: Par 5 is paramount.  The four holes are the easiest on the course with birdie rates north of 30%.  The added distance to the course has made the Par 5’s a bit more challenging.  This year, we shouldn’t be shocked if players lay up a bit more to put scoring wedges in hand in lieu of trying to hold woods on the greens.  That said, players will still need to take advantage to put together a winning score.  

Summing up, SG: Approach, OTT, Fairways, ARG, Par 5, and Par 4’s 450-500 yards will be the primary focal points for the week.  Approach will be weighted the most with Par 5’s getting a considerable bump as well.  

On to the start of our card.  

2022 Memorial Tournament Betting Picks

Unless mentioned otherwise, all strokes gained statistics will be referenced over the player’s previous 36 rounds on the PGA Tour.

Max Homa +4000 (Bet365)

The way I see it, the structure of my betting card is going one of two ways this week.  The investment begins with a big number up top and a handful of longshots or a card filled with mid-range talent.  

I feel more comfortable going to battle with the midrange this week instead of a big favorite and several bombs.  For that reason, Max Homa will lead the card.  Over his last 36 rounds, Homa checks every aforementioned box and then some.  He has developed a reputation as a big-game hunter (outside of the majors) and continues to bolster a developing resume.  

His recent win at the Wells Fargo and a victory at Riviera last year have many folks thinking Max Homa should be a President’s Cup team member in the fall.  Including that victory, Homa has six Top 20’s over his last eight tournaments.  

Max is Top 10 in SG: Approach, Putting, and Par 5.  He is a useful start to the card at one unit.  You can get +4000 odds at Bet365.

Cameron Young +4000 (DraftKings)

If you are a consistent reader, you know, this selection is in the moment the field is released.  Cameron Young is a bet for me until he becomes a first-time winner on the PGA Tour.  

Young’s finish at the PGA Championship was very worrisome.  His late double bogey proved wildly costly as Justin Thomas was able to clinch a spot in the playoff at -5.  That said, Cameron Young leads this week’s field in SG: Par 4 450-500 yards and 10th in SG: Par 5.  Young is a dynamo off the tee and at some point, he is going to close one of these out.  

If his PGA Championship performance was not enough, we must not forget his run at Riviera earlier in the season.  40-1 is a number a bit steeper than I am accustomed to but it will not deter me from including him this week for a full unit.  

Mito Pereira +5000 (FanDuel)

After the PGA Championship debacle on the 18th hole, nobody, myself included, anticipated Mito would bounce back in the Charles Schwab Challenge.  Well, he bounced back very successfully. 

Mito backed up his brutal closing at the PGA Championship with a 7th place finish at Colonial.  He gained 9.2 strokes tee-to-green.  Despite a fantastic putting performance, Mito’s forte is off-the-tee and on approach.  Those two categories will go a long way to make his recent form result in a streak of great finishes.  

Mito already proved he can perform with the best.  I was impressed with his moxie last week and anticipate Mito will join the first-time winners list sooner rather than later.  

Aaron Wise +8000 (DraftKings)

Last season, Aaron Wise finished 9th at the Memorial.  His recent form is trending well.  

He played well at the PGA Championship despite a 23rd-place finish.  The peak gain was 4.9 strokes putting.  We can’t expect that each week but the performance on bentgrass greens was something to become excited about.  

Wise gained 6.6 strokes T2G in his first made cut at Jack’s tournament last year.  His game off the tee and on approach is more than sufficient to justify a spot on the card.  Further, the benefit of spending less at the top of my card lets me spend a bit more on the bottom.  I think Wise is a good half-unit addition as he trends up. 

The Memorial Tournament Betting Card

Net Units Charles Schwab:  -8.5 units

2022 Profit in Units:  +55.6 units

Follow me on Twitter at @JoeCistaro  to follow along with any additions, matchups, or top finishers I add to my outright betting card.  Good luck with all of your wagers this week and thanks for reading.