The Memorial Tournament 2023: First-Round Leader (FRL) Bets

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Patrick Cantlay watches his shot on the first fairway during the second round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament, Friday, April 22, 2022, at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Ryan Hannable @RyanHannable May 30, 2023, 1:20 PM
  • The Memorial Tournament is June 1-4 from Muirfield Village.
  • First-round leader bets are a nice way to make a quick profit.

The Memorial Tournament is June 1-4 from Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.

With Jack Nicklaus as tournament host, it always drew a strong field, but it is even better this year, with the tournament being a designated event.

Muirfield Village has a major-like feel, especially because of its renovation following the 2020 tournament. It is known for its length, thick rough, and fast Bentgrass greens. It is a par-72 that plays 7,533 yards.

The course record is 61, set by John Huston in 1996.

Who could post the best score in Thursday’s first round? Below are my first-round leader bets for the week.

The Memorial Tournament: First-Round Leader (FRL) Bets

Patrick Cantlay +2000 First-Round Leader

Cantlay feels right at home at Muirfield Village, and it would not be that surprising to see him get off to a great start on Thursday. In the two years he won the event (2018 and 2021), he opened with rounds in the 60s.

He has struggled in opening rounds overall this year. He ranks 29th in first-round scoring (69.73).

Si Woo Kim +5000 First-Round Leader

Kim has a lot of things going for him, as he’s had a ton of success at this tournament over the years, logging three straight top–20 finishes.

In addition, he’s been solid this year in the first round with a 69.39 scoring average, good for 14th on Tour. Don’t be surprised if he has a solid Thursday and is at the top of the leaderboard.

Hayden Buckley +10000 First-Round Leader

Buckley is making his tournament debut, but he’s a solid ball striker, and it feels like his game could suit this course nicely, especially given his play in recent majors.

The 27-year-old enters the event ranked 25th on the PGA Tour in first-round scoring average (69.61).

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About the Author

Ryan Hannable

Read More @RyanHannable

Ryan Hannable is a Content Managing Editor on the Web Content Team for BetMGM. Previously, he was a New England Patriots beat writer for WEEI in Boston. He also has published a golf book, “The Ultimate Book of Golf Trivia: 600 Questions and Answers.”

Ryan Hannable is a Content Managing Editor on the Web Content Team for BetMGM. Previously, he was a New England Patriots beat writer for WEEI in Boston. He also has published a golf book, “The Ultimate Book of Golf Trivia: 600 Questions and Answers.”