This article is part of our Weekly PGA Preview series.
Workday Charity Open
Muirfield Village G.C.
Dublin, OH
The PGA Tour heads to Dublin, OH this week as Bryson DeChambeau's tour of destruction heads a little further south. DeChambeau is not in the field this week, but he'll likely be in town as he's in the field for next week's Memorial tournament, which will be oddly be held at the same course. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that consecutive events have never been held on the same course on the PGA Tour before. Whatever the case, this may prove to be incredibly interesting or incredibly boring. Fortunately, the field will look different next week, as will the purse sizes and possibly some hole setups. One thing that will be the same both weeks? There will not be any fans, as the PGA Tour delayed their return, which was scheduled at the Memorial, due to "the rapidly changing dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic." Quite honestly, outside of the roars at Augusta, I don't think I really miss the fans all that much. But that's for another time. As for this week, although it's a new event, we'll use the stats from previous Memorial tournaments to gauge course history and obviously, we have plenty of recent play to get a feel for current form. Though we do have course history this week, it's not necessarily the same as event history, which means I'll lean a bit more on recent play.
FAVORITES
Justin Thomas (10-1)
Last week DeChambeau was the heavy favorite not only because of the cache his name brings these days, but also because of his recent play. This week, we are back to placing a big name as the odds-on favorite, even though his recent play may not warrant it. Thomas played pretty well out of the break, with top-10s in his first two starts, but he missed the cut in his most recent appearance and skipped last week's event. Should he be considered this week? Sure, but he shouldn't be the favorite.
Jon Rahm (12-1)
Speaking of a name carrying weight for the oddsmakers his week, here's Rahm again, even though he hasn't done much of anything since play resumed. In three starts since the break, Rahm as failed to crack the top 30. He also played poorly in his only start on this course. If you're taking Rahm this week, you are simply hoping for a turnaround.
Patrick Cantlay (14-1)
Cantlay hasn't played as much as some players recently, but he looked pretty good in his only start at the Travelers Championship two weeks ago when he posted a T11. This is where course history gets tricky. Cantlay won the Memorial last year and posted a top-5 the year prior, which means he's got a feel for this course. But will the track play the same this week? Regardless, I have to assume that guys like Cantlay, who have a feel for Muirfield, should do just fine.
THE NEXT TIER
Brooks Koepka (16-1)
Koepka struggled while working back from injury early this season, but the break looks to have done him well, as he looked like the old Koepka in his most recent start at the RBC Heritage. Though he didn't win, he posted a solo 7th and showed glimpses of "Major Koepka", who is the best player on the planet. The issue with Koepka has always been his focus during non-majors, but you aren't going to get odds like this on him for very long, so this might be the best time to get him.
Xander Schauffele (20-1)
Schauffele is another guy who has taken advantage of the unscheduled break in the PGA Tour season, as his game has looked much better since the return to action. Schauffele struggled to find his form early in the year, but he posted a top-3 in his first start back and carded a top-20 in his most recent appearance. He might not be all the way back yet, but he's close enough to contend if everything lines up correctly. Schauffele posted a T14 in his most recent start on this course.
Justin Rose (25-1)
After two strong starts post-break, Rose looked like a great pick at the Travelers Championship two weeks ago, but he went onto miss the cut. Those that have played fantasy golf for any length of time know how this works. After falling flat while looking primed, said player usually bounces back the following start. Rose is in position to do so this week, as his track record at Muirfield Village is very strong, with seven top-10s in 13 starts, including two runner-ups and a win in 2010.
LONG SHOTS
Kevin Streelman (80-1)
When we last saw Streelman, he was making a furious charge at the Travelers Championship, falling just short of Dustin Johnson. It was certainly a departure from his previous two starts in which he missed the cut, but that has been the story of Streelman's career -- extreme highs and lows. Though he took a week off, perhaps he'll still be in the zone when he tees it up this week. His track record at Muirfield Village is solid, with top-10s in two of his past four starts at the Memorial.
Ryan Armour (100-1)
When we get into triple-digit territory, we aren't looking at golfers that are expected to win, but it's not often you can get a guy at this price who has posted a T6 and a T4 in his two most recent starts. Armour missed the cut in his last seven starts prior to the break, but he's been a different player post-break. I'm not sure why, but he obviously figured something out.
ONE-AND-DONE LEAGUES
Highly-owned Pick: Patrick Cantlay - As the pseudo-defending champ this week, Cantlay is bound to catch a lot of attention. Throw in a solid performance in his only start since the break and that puts him over the top in terms of expected ownership. He's on my short list and you have to figure he's going to contend this week or next -- or both -- but which is the best spot to use him? If you are thinking next week looks like a better spot, then by all means, wait on Cantlay, as the purse is significantly higher in the Memorial.
Moderately-owned Pick: Justin Rose - Oh, how I wish I hadn't used Rose two weeks ago. Not only because he missed the cut, but also because he looks like a great pick now. As for the public, Rose's track record at the Memorial is bound to draw some attention, and one bad outing since play resumed can be forgiven.
Lightly-owned Pick: Kevin Streelman - Like Doc Redman last week, in OAD tournaments, a player of Streelman's caliber is not going to be very popular, but could end up being a solid play. With roughly 12 events left on the 2020 schedule, most OAD players are going to aim higher, but if you need to make up ground, Streelman could be a sneaky sleeper.
Buyer Beware: Jon Rahm - As mentioned earlier, Rahm's placement as the second favorite is based solely on his name. Rahm has not showed much of anything since the break, and although he's capable of winning whenever he tees it up, there's little reason to think that will occur this week.
Last Week: Tyrrell Hatton (T4) $300,000 Season - $3,185,496
This Week: Xander Schauffele - With several big names winning of late, I've fallen off the pace in my OAD leagues, but I'm not to the point quite yet where I have to reach for someone like Streelman, so I'll stick with a relatively big name like Schauffele. Schauffele nearly won the Charles Schwab Challenge a few weeks ago and posted a top-20 in his most recent start.
FANDUEL PICKS
Upper Range: Patrick Cantlay ($11,700)
Middle Range: Kevin Streelman ($9,600)
Lower Range: Brendan Steele ($8,600)
SURVIVOR LEAGUES
Last Week: Patrick Reed (MC) - Streak - 0
This Week: Xander Schauffele - After two rough weeks in this format it's time to get back on track, and what better way to do that then to double-up on a top player. Schauffele doesn't have much of a track record on this course, but his form has been solid and it's not too much to ask that he simply makes the cut this week.
