PGA Tour preview - McIlroy to make a memorable Memorial?
With Tiger Woods seemingly having lost his bite and Phil Mickelson missing the cut at last week's Crowne Plaza Invitational, neither player seems to offer a whole lot of value at this week's Memorial Tournament.
Woods remains favourite, despite playing poorly in his most recent showings - and that was before he had to withdraw with an injury at the Players Championship. If any man can confound his critics, though, it's Tiger, a four-time winner here in the past. It's not like the course would prove troublesome for Woods under more usual conditions, but still, we have to be wary of seriously backing him, at least based on most recent form.
And Mickelson himself looks similarly hit and miss, winning in style at the Masters and coming second at Quail Hollow only because Rory McIlroy produced an inspired final round of 62 - before a very poor showing at Colonial last week, when the 39-year-old was being tipped to topple Tiger Woods from the No. 1 spot in the world rankings.
Of course, Mickelson could still do that this week. There's a theory floating about that in recent times, the Californian has come to depend on Woods playing in the same field as him to really get his competitive side sparking; in the five tournaments that both players have made starts in since last year's Tour Championship, Mickelson has won three times, come second once and most recently, at the Players, tied for 17th place. Maybe the presence of the 14-time major winner can galvanise Mickelson once again this weekend, though bear in mind he's never won here before.
So with both players in erratic form, you might want to look further afield. It could be a decision led by the heart as much as the head - my next pick has certainly been no stranger to erratic play himself this year - but McIlroy has proved he is more than capable of upstaging Mickelson.
Admittedly, McIlroy missed the cut at the recent Players Championship, and could only finish 48th at the BMW PGA Championship. But recent form is no real guarantee of excellence or otherwise with this 21-year-old - before his success at Quail Hollow, where McIlroy won his first PGA Tour tournament, he had missed the cut at the Masters and the Houston Open. McIlroy had also looked in danger of crashing out at Quail, with only a priceless eagle on the Friday meaning he avoided the cut.
Maybe consistency will come with more experience; certainly, backing McIlroy on his first time at Muirfield represents a true gamble. Nonetheless, at odds of 25-1 or greater available right now, the lad from Holywood is not without appeal - perhaps he's not one to lump on, but certainly for a cheeky £20, he could be worth getting behind this week.
Other favourites include Korea's KJ Choi, a winner here back in 2007, and Ernie Els, twice a winner on the PGA Tour already this year. But we'll stick with McIlroy - who knows, maybe the Memorial could prove a nice little warm up for Rory, with the US Open just around the corner.
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