The world's finest ramp up preparations for next week's US Open with the final stop on the PGA Tour ahead of the third major.
The Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, USA, plays host to the $20,000,000 prize pool 'signature' event, with the world's top five all set to be in attendance including Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele.
World number five Viktor Hovland (18/1) of Norway is the defending champion – he registered a –7 performance 12 months ago, defeating American Denny McCarthy (66/1) in a playoff.
Other former winners on tee include Billy Horschel (75/1), Patrick Cantlay (22/1), Hideki Matsuyama (33/1) and Justin Rose (110/1).
A week on from the Charles Schwab Classic, where we selected Englishman Aaron Rai to finish in the top 20 at 7/4, Robert McIntyre will be aiming to become the first player in 2024 to win back-to-back tournaments after carding a –16 under par performance to win by one shot.
MacIntrye has a 25% strike rate finishing in the top 10 of tournaments this season, but has also missed seven of 16 cuts. His last four tournament finishes include a T13 at the Myrtle Beach Classic, T8 at the PGA Championship, a missed cut at the Charles Schwab Classic and last week's tournament victory.
Punters will be heavily backing his recent form over statistical metrics – although his scoring average ranks 19th on the PGA Tour at 69.57. 9/4 for a top 20 finish is certainly backable.
We've discussed Scottie Scheffler repeatedly over the current season – statistically by far the lead golfer on the PGA Tour in many metrics. He is 4/5 for a top five finish and as short as 15/4 to claim victory.
A player that has a lot to like about him statistically is McCarthy, runner-up last year. He is the best putter on the PGA Tour this term – third in shots gained (0.793), fifth in putting average (1.709), first in putts per round (27.45) and first in one-putt percentage (46.62).
You would be banking on an improved performance off the tee and on approach – even modest improvements could elevate into top 20 contention on a weekly basis – and on an average difficulty course he could offer some value at 29/20.
South Korean Byeong Hun An is a candidate to excel as well. The 32-year-old boasts five top 10 finishes in 2024, with seven top 20 outings – a 50% strike rate. He's had a couple of weeks off following the PGA Championship, but he headed into that tournament on the back of T4 and P3 finishes.
He's second on the PGA Tour in birdie average (4.69), 14th in scoring average (69.55), third in drive distance (314.1), 10th in greens hit in regulation (70.26%) and 24th in putting average (1.726) - the all-round game is certainly there for him to shine.
A small wager on the 28/1 - each/way to 12 places – seems an excellent prospect, backed up by 14/5 to finish top 10 and 21/20 to end up in the top 20.
Best Bets
Denny McCarthy to finish top 20 – 29/20
Byeong-Hun An to win each-way to 12 places – 28/1
Byeong-Hun An to finish top 20 – 21/20
