DUBLIN, OHIO – JUNE 09: Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates after making par on the 18th green to win the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 09, 2024 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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This week the PGA Tour prepares for another signature event, and it is the final primer for many players ahead of the U.S. Open in two weeks. Following the dramatic finish of the Charles Schwab Challenge last week, the hope is the full field event for The Memorial tournament will live up to the hype.
The Memorial is played annually at Murfield Village and is hosted by golf legend Jack Nicklaus. Taking a look at Murfield, the course is a Par 72 which stretches to 7,569 yards in length. This signature event, unlike many others, is a cut event, so players are not guaranteed a pay day. Instead, they have to make the cut to earn a pay check this week.
The vast majority of the big name players are in this tournament field, and it’s still important to take a look at the past winners of this event:
The Memorial Tournament Past Winners
- 2025 – Scottie Scheffler
- 2024 – Scottie Scheffler
- 2023 – Viktor Hovland
- 2022 – Billy Horschel
Keeping in mind players who have done well in this tournament, let’s take a look at the top five players, based on odds.
2026 Memorial Tournament Odds
- Scottie Scheffler (+310)
- Rory McIlroy (+980)
- Cameron Young (+1425)
- Ludvig Aberg (+1600)
- Xander Schauffele (+1700)
When it comes to picks for this event, I like to start with my favorite and long shot picks for the tournament. The favorite pick is the pick I like the most for an outright winner. For the long shot winner, that is a golfer who has over +2000 odds to win. It is a long shot pick for a reason, and finding those can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Here are my favorite and long shot picks for the 2026 Memorial Tournament:
Favorite: Scottie Scheffler (+310)
Long Shot: Ben Griffin (+4000)
Scheffler has won this evet the past two seasons, and it is hard to bet against him at this juncture of the season. As Scheffler prepares for the U.S. Open, and a career grand slam, winning this signature event would absolutely help propel him into the next major. He only has one win this season, but every time he tees it up he is a legitimate option to win.
As for Griffin, since the Zurich Classic his game has slowly gotten back to where it was last year when he was a three-time winner on tour. Griffin had a strong finish to the Charles Schwab Challenge last week, and his +4000 odds seem like a solid long shot play for this signature event.
Top 5 Bets For the Memorial Tournament 2026
- Cameron Young (+260)
- Scottie Scheffler (-148)
The last time Cam Young played his performance was disappointing compared to his previous results. Young is a two-time winner on tour this season, and has shown to be a force in the upper echelon of players. However, getting to the top and staying there are two different things. With some time off to rest, I see Young bouncing back with a Top 5 finish at Murfield.
Scheffler is a player who you take negative odds on when it comes to a Top 5 finish. If Scheffler hasn’t won this season, he has been in the Top 5 more than he hasn’t. Scheffler as a Top 5, if he doesn’t win, makes a lot of sense at an event he has won the past two years.
Top 10 Picks For The Memorial 2026
- Ludvig Aberg (+136)
- Rory McIlroy (-108)
Last week I took Ludvig to win, and realized his struggles with putting together four straight solid rounds. However, he is talented enough to be at the top of the leaderboard when the tournament ends. Aberg is a solid pick, but I think for a Top 10 is right right spot until he can show more consistency.
Getting McIlroy as a Top 10 play at just -108 is a great spot for McIlroy. Rory isn’t playing much in between majors anymore, and that can lead to some rust when he gets back on the course. I wouldn’t be shocked if Rory would end his streak of not winning the Memorial, but I’ll stick with a Top 10 finish for him this weekend.
Top 20 Value Picks For the Memorial Tournament 2026
- Chris Gotterup (+132)
- Sepp Straka (+146)
Gotterup has won twice on tour already this season, and has been a streaky player since his win at the Phoenix Open. However, he absolutely is capable of making a move against the best players in the game. With that said, I think getting +132 odds for a Top 20 play is extreme value here, hence my selection.
My “gut pick” of the week is one I chose just a few weeks ago, and that’s with Sepp Straka. Straka historically plays well at Murfield, and I think the +146 odds scream a smart, and logical, play for the upcoming signature event.
Best Prop Bets, Parlays And Bonus Plays for The Memorial Tournament
For bonus plays, these are picks which I don’t necessarily hang my hat on, but still provide value for some who want more exotic plays outside of the aforementioned picks. Sometimes bonus plays are parlays, double chances, triple chances, and even some fun plays for that particular event.
Here are the bonus plays for the 2026 Memorial Tournament:
Double Chance: Scottie Scheffler or Cameron Young (+215)
Triple Chance: Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy or Cameron Young (+146)
Top 20 Parlay: Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Matt Fitzpatrick (+260)