Who will win the 2022 Memorial Tournament? The experts don't agree
With a field that includes seven of the world's top 10 players, this weekend's Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club is sure to display some great golf.
But who will win? Will Patrick Cantlay defend his title? Or will Jon Rahm, who was cruising to an easy victory last year before having to withdraw with COVID, resume his Muirfield domination?
The field appears to be wide open, and our four experts don't agree on who will take home the trophy.
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Here are the predictions:
ROB OLLER, Columbus Dispatch
Pick to win: Will Zalatoris.
Why he’ll win: Muirfield Village Golf Club is a second-shot course, meaning the player with pinpoint accuracy into the greens and who has above average ball-striking skills has a huge advantage. Zalatoris leads the PGA Tour in SG (strokes gained against the field) tee-to-green, which makes Jack Nicklaus’ home-away-from-home the perfect place for the 25-year-old native Californian to collect his first tour win. Three of the past eight Memorials have been won by first-time winners (William McGirt, 2016, David Lingmerth, 2015, Hideki Matsuyama 2014). Add Zalatoris to that list. He finished runner-up at the PGA Championship two weeks ago, and while he missed the cut at both Texas stops he finished T5-T6-T4 and T2 in four of his last six.
Others to watch: Matsuyama, Rahm, Max Homa
What? No Cantlay, the defending champion who also won in 2019? That’s right, I’m playing the odds that despite Cantlay loving the course he will not join Tiger Woods as the only players to win consecutive Memorials. As for Rahm, the Spaniard has unfinished business to attend to after his early exit from the 2021 Memorial due to testing positive for COVID-19. Rahm led by six strokes when he was forced to WD after the third round. Matsuyama ranks T4 on tour in par-5 scoring and has two wins among five top-10s this year. Homa also has won twice this season, and finished T6 at MVGC last year.
BILL RABINOWITZ, Columbus Dispatch
Pick to win: Rory McIlroy.
Why he'll win: He's never finished better than tied for fourth here, but he has been playing well. It feels like it might be time to get that handshake from Jack Nicklaus coming off the 18th on Sunday.
Others to watch: Cantlay, Rahm, Collin Morikawa
Cantlay: Obviously. Rahm: How much will last year's disappointment when he was dominating the field motivate him? Morikawa: Another young stud who has already proven he knows how to play Muirfield.
STEVE DIMEGLIO, Golfweek
Pick to win: Jordan Spieth
Why he'll win: It’s hard to pick against Rahm, who won two years ago and was forced to withdraw last year when leading by six with 18 to play because he tested positive for COVID-19. But I’m going with Spieth. The world No. 10 was on a heater, winning the RBC Heritage and finishing second in the AT&T Byron Nelson, before throwing in a clunker at the PGA Championship. But he rebounded quickly and tied for seventh last week in the Charles Schwab Challenge. I like picking the hot golfer. And one of the best putters (although that’s where he has struggled this year). And Spieth has improved many lengths from tee to green.
Others to watch: Rahm, Tony Finau, Patrick Reed
Well, you have to keep your eye on world No. 2 Rahm. Do not overlook Finau, who finished in a tie for fourth last week in the Charles Schwab Challenge. He has more than enough length to talk Jack’s place and if he overcomes his putting woes, and that’s a big if, look out. And Reed seems to be turning around his dismal year by deciding to play golf instead of playing swing. He tied for seventh last week.
RILEY HAMEL, Golfweek
Pick to win: Cameron Young
Why he'll win: It took a lot of self-control not to go with McIlroy (I pick him every week). But, in the end, I went with rising star Young. The 25-year-old has finished T-3, T-2, T-3 in his past three PGA Tour starts. The kid has been knocking on the door all season long, as his runner-up performance at the Wells Fargo Championship was already his third silver medal (Sanderson Farms, Genesis Invitational). The past five winners of the Memorial were ranked inside the top 14 in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green entering the week – Young is ranked 14th on tour this season. He’s a player who does everything well, and that’s needed to win around Jack’s place. Tipico Sportsbook has him listed at +4000 (40/1) to win.
Others to watch: McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry
Here is where I’ll put Mr. McIlroy. You have to think this run of good play will eventually lead to a win. He’s put together three-straight top 10 finishes at the Masters (second), Wells Fargo (fifth), and PGA Championship (eighth). Going off the stat I used earlier about SG: T2G, the Northern Irishman is third in that category this season on Tour. In 2021, McIlroy grabbed a top 20 at the newly renovated Muirfield. Fitzpatrick seams to play better when the conditions are tougher (just look at his extensive record at Bay Hill, or his finish at the PGA Championship just a few weeks ago). Since missing the cut at the Players, Fitzpatrick has complied four top 20s in five stroke-play event starts, three of which being top 5s. Lowry has put together quite the resume in 2022 – in six stroke-play event starts, his worse finish is T-23 (PGA Championship). He has five top 15s, three of which are top 3s. All four of these players have done everything but win in 2022.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Memorial golf tournament 2022 expert picks
