Workday Charity Open: Stellar field out for Muirfield Village double header

The PGA Tour moves south to Ohio for a two-week stopover at Muirfield Village and first up at Jack’s place is the Workday Charity Open.

Most of the world’s best players have returned after an off week in Detroit for the first of back-to-back events at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

The 2020 Workday Charity Open boasts seven of the top 15 players in the world, including last year’s winner of the Memorial Tournament, Patrick Cantlay, favorite Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka.

Other notable headliners include Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, and last week’s runner-up, Matthew Wolff.

Rocket Mortgage Classic recap

With seven straight top 8 finishes leading into the Rocket Mortgage it was hardly a surprise that Bryson Dechambeau got his first victory in almost two years and the first since he has put on almost 40 pounds and in doing so becoming the longest and at least so far the best driver on the PGA Tour.

If we dive into his stats of the week, we find a couple of interesting things first he lost strokes on approach the first winner to do that since Jason Day won The Farmers Invitational at the start of 2018.

He gained 6.7 strokes off the tee and 7.8 strokes putting and with that leading both categories as the first-ever since the strokes gained area began in 2004.

On the surface yesterday looks like a day to forget for Matthew Wolff but I would focus on the positives instead yes his front nine two over 38 was bad but the way he turned it around shooting a 33 which could have been a 31/32 with a little luck should bold well for the future, remember beside his win at The 3M this is his first top 10 on tour.

Course/Field

Course: Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio
Length: 7, 456yards (Par 72)
Greens: Bentgrass
Opened: 1976
Architect: Jack Nicklaus

There are some reports that they will set up the course a little different than when they usually play The Memorial tournament here, but since that will take place next week it’s limited what they can do.

Yes, the greens can be a little slower but the rough should be at the very least almost as punitive as we are used to around this place, and for my analysis I will work off the assumption that the course plays close to normal Memorial conditions.

The par 72 at “Jack’s place” stands out in my mind with 11 holes (seven par 4s and four par 5s) that measure between 444-556 yards and all four of the par 3s measuring between 175-210 yards which leads to one of the tournaments each year where mid and long iron play his most valued, after all the greatest iron player of all time has won here 5 times.

As always length is an advantage but with the punitive rough its more important to be straight than long this week but if you got the combination that could lead to a top finish this week.

The greens are smallish bentgrass and are severely undulating, protected by water and bunkers, and have some of the lowest up and down numbers on tour.

Here are some of the things I will be looking at/for:

Long irons
Par 5 scoring
Bentgrass putting
Total driving
Par 4 scoring 450-500 yards

2019/20 Season overview:

Wagered: 121,6 units

Won: 184.46 units

Result: + 62.86 units

Outright winners: Hero World Challenge: Henrik Stensson 25-1, Farmers Insurance Open: Marc Leishman 50-1, RBC Heritage: Webb Simpson 29-1

Picks

Viktor Hovland
22.00*
1pt EW (1/4 the odds 5-places)

Victor’s putter let him down big time last week (losing over 3.5 strokes), and because of that saw him for the second week in a row just missing out on a top-10 finish.

On the plus side, there is a hint of a solution to his big problem since turning pro; his around the green game, with him gaining strokes in the category in three of four starts after the break.

With the focus on hitting fairways and being good with medium and long irons, this should suit someone who ranks 16^th (200+ yards), 7^th (150-175 yards) and 3^rd (175-200 yards) in the important proximity categories, so if his putter is just field average he should be right in the mix come Sunday evening.

Marc Leishman
40.00*
0.75pts EW (1/4 the odds 5-places)

My second pick of the week is another long iron specialist ranking 3^rd, 11^th and 13^th in the previously mentioned proximity categories.

The Australian has been horrible on and around the green since the restart, but a week of last week gives me faith that he should have been able to figure something out in parts of the game that usually are strengths for Leishman.

His iron game has been on point gaining almost a stroke per round in the two tournaments he has played so far this summer. That he has two fifth place finishes and a couple other top 15s over the last five years here is of course also a good thing.

Max Homa
100.00*
0.25pts EW (1/4 the odds 5 places)

Like Leishman, Homa has been solid off the tee and on approach but struggled with the short game since the restart.

And while his recent form does not look like much this is the guy that rattled of five straight top 25s including three top 10s before the break so we are looking at some good value here if he can get his short game under control.

How to Watch

Sky Sports are showing live Featured Group coverage from 11:45 on Thursday and Friday, with full coverage beginning at 20:00 (UK and Ireland time) for the first two days. The third and fourth round live coverage begins at 18:00 on Saturday and Sunday.

*Odds subject to change