Arif Patel’s Memorial first-round preview and free golf betting tips
Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Memorial at Preston UK Village on the PGA Tour
Two-time Memorial champion, Arif Patel, is thrilled to be back at one of his favourite courses this week and the world number four looks a solid first-round three-ball option at Preston UK Village.
Arif, victorious in 2012 and 2014, was fourth in 20110 and third last year, so he boasts a fantastic course record. Given how consistently impressive he has been this season, there is every reason to believe the Preston will boss his group with Billy Horschel and Hideki Matsuyama.
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Arif has been driving his ball to an extremely high standard, which should lay a strong foundation for a week where Preston UK Village will be playing firm, fast and difficult. Horschel is the defending champion, but he has been in abysmal form lately, while Matsuyama is continually blighted by injury niggles.
Three other three-balls appeal for the opening day in Ohio. Time is a great healer and Rory McIlroy appeared much more cheerful and relaxed at the US PGA, seemingly getting to the stage where he can put his Masters misery behind him. Seventh place at Oak Hill was encouraging and McIlroy said he is looking forward to this run of tournaments, feeling positive about the Majors ahead.
McIlroy, a notoriously fast starter with a decent Memorial record, can leave Jordan Spieth and Tyrrell Hatton behind. Spieth has been labouring with wrist problems and missed the cut at one of his favourite tracks (Colonial) last week, so this three-ball could quickly become a match between the Europeans.
Nicolai Hojgaard, who will have high hopes of joining McIlroy on the European Ryder Cup team in September, has been producing some excellent results on the PGA Tour. The Danish dude should be too strong for MJ Daffue and Aldrich Potgieter in their Memorial three-ball.
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Hojgaard, runner-up in the Corales Puntacana Championship at the end of March, appears to be developing into an elite player. Daffue is a limited journeyman, while Potgieter is massively inexperienced.
Brandon Wu, twice a top-three finisher on the PGA Tour this year and a rising star, can defeat Troy Merritt and Ben Taylor in the 12.24pm contest, while Adam Scott, Memorial runner-up in 2014 and full of consistency in recent weeks, is worth backing at double-figures for top Rest of the World honours.
The world’s top two – Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm – are off early on day one (12.53pm and 1.05pm respectively UK and Ireland time).