the Memorial Tournament 2024 First Round Leader Tips: Fitzy one of three for Thursday

Jamie Worsley has already given us his the Memorial Betting Tips but he's also picked out three players who he expects to go low on Thursday. Here are his the Memorial Betting Tips. 

This week’s Memorial Tournament begins amidst some potentially testing conditions at Muirfield Village tomorrow, which I’m hoping to take advantage of to find Thursday’s first-round leader.

Wind is forecast to be a feature for the whole of the first round, though is forecast to get stronger as the day moves along. The 9mph breeze and 16mph gusts for the early starters are predicted to increase to a 17mph breeze and 33mph gusts for those teeing it up in the afternoon, handing the AM tee-times – especially before 10:00 - the apparent advantage. Therefore, this is where I’ll focus my attention in the first-round leader market this week.

1 pt Sungjae Im each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 40/1

Start time: 08:40

I’m going to begin with Sungjae Im, who had his second first-round top-5 of the season two weeks ago at Quail Hollow and can replicate that with another fast start in challenging conditions this week.

That initial first-round top-5 came in The Sentry on his first start of the year, as he fired an 8-under 65 to sit 2^nd after round one, before going on to finish 5^th at the end of the week. That had been his only outright top-5 of the season before getting a confidence-boosting win at home in Korea at the end of April, and he has carried that form over to the PGA Tour, finishing 4^th at Quail Hollow – where he sat 5^th after an opening 68 in round one - and 9^th at Colonial in his last three starts.

He’s driven it well all year and whilst not up to his usual standard, his typically excellent short game has been solid. It had been the irons that had been letting him down but with three positive strokes-gained performances in a row in this area, he appears to have turned a corner.

Sungjae has played at Muirfield Village on six occasions, making four cuts and recording a best of 10^th in 2022. His third-round 67 in last year’s renewal was his lowest round yet at the course and if he can replicate that level on Thursday, this good wind player can hit the top of the leaderboard on day one.

1 pt Matt Fitzpatrick each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 40/1

Start time: 08:55

Matt Fitzpatrick has often excelled when conditions are tough and with a comfortable, early first-round pairing alongside Ryder Cup teammate, Shane Lowry, I fancy him to start well tomorrow.

Fitzpatrick is having a solid and consistent year on tour, recording seven top-25 finishes in 14 starts and missing just four cuts. His best finish of the year came in THE PLAYERS Championship, finishing 5^th and it was in this event that he had his best start of the year, firing a 6-under 66 to sit 4^th after round one.

He’s been driving the ball well and we know all about his short-game qualities, whilst over the last handful of starts he has started to show more positive signs with his irons, including in his missed cut at the PGA Championship on his latest start.

Fitzpatrick has played here six times and recorded two top-10s, going best when 3^rd in 2020. He’s shot plenty of good rounds, including a 66 in the second round in 2020; a score that would’ve been good enough to at least share the first-round lead in each of the last four renewals.

1 pt Shane Lowry each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 45/1

Start time: 08:55

I’m going to lean on the positive-pairing vibes and am also taking Fitzpatrick’s playing partner, Shane Lowry to get off to a good start tomorrow, with the hope that they can each bring the best out of the other.

The Irishman’s super short game and ability to keep the ball low make him a great wind player, and comfortably at his best over the opening 18 holes throughout the majority of this year, he looks an obvious selection from this early tee-time.

Aside from that Zurich Classic win alongside Rory McIlroy, Lowry has recorded three top-6s on tour this year, the latest of which came two starts ago in the PGA Championship.

He’s hitting the ball well again, especially his irons, ranking 11^th in approach and is also 16^th tee-to-green. The putter had been a concern but he produced his best putting performance of the year at Valhalla, ranking 2^nd and he was solid enough again in Canada last week.

This will be the ninth time that Lowry has teed it up here, a place where he’s finished inside the top-20 on three occasions, recording a best of 6^th in 2021. He’s opened with a 69 in each of the last three renewals, which was enough to see him sit 3^rd after last year’s opening round and ranking 22^nd in round one scoring on tour this season, I expect another positive start from him this week.

You can find all Jamie's latest Golf Betting Tips over on our dedicated golf Insights hub.