First Round Leader Odds at the 2021 Memorial Tournament

• The Memorial Tournament from Muirfield Village in Dublin, OH tees off Thursday, June 3rd
• Jon Rahm is the +2200 favorite over Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth to lead after the first round
• See the best bets and odds to grab the first-round lead in the article below 

Just two weeks before the US Open will be contested at Torrey Pines, the PGA Tour’s best head to Jack Nicklaus’ famed Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio. Muirfield Village Golf Club has undergone a renovation after last year when it hosted back-to-back events, with the Workday Charity Open followed by the Memorial.

Defending champion Jon Rahm is the favorite to become the first golfer since Tiger Woods in 2001 to win back-to-back, and he’s also the favorite to grab the lead after 18 holes.

In this article, we’ll explore which players have the best chance of being the leader after day one, along with what players are playing well on Thursday’s this season.

2021 Memorial Tournament First Round Leader Odds

Odds as of June 1st

The forecast is expected to be cloudy in the morning with showers and a risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon, with probability of precipitation sitting at 90%.

Temperatures will be between the low 60 degrees in the morning, rising to low 70’s in the afternoon. Wind gusts will be virtually identical throughout the day, hovering between eleven and fourteen miles per hour.

A benefit for those teeing it up in the morning is the exact same as it is every week – less bumpy greens with fewer players chewing them up.

Kevin Streelman Solid at Muirfield Village

Not only does Kevin Streelman come into the Memorial playing solid golf with three straight top-30 finishes, highlighted by a T-8 at the PGA Championship, but he has a strong track record around this course.

He’s also 20th in first round scoring on the campaign, and hasn’t opened up an event with a score worse than 73 in twelve attempts in 2021.

Streelman has made his last seven cuts at Muirfield Village, with these being his best results at this track.

Streelman’s Best Finishes at Muirfield Village

In the last 24 rounds at this venue, he’s fifth in total strokes gained, tenth in putting and twelfth in SG: tee-to-green.

• Pick: Kevin Streelman (+5500)

Adam Scott Performs Well at This Venue

The last time Adam Scott played the Memorial Tournament in 2019, he came oh-so-close to victory, where he finished runner-up to Patrick Cantlay. That was his fourth career top-5 finish at this track, where he’s made eleven of twelve cuts in his career.

In the last 24 rounds at Muirfield Village, the 14-time PGA Tour champion has been fantastic, ranking very high in several ‘strokes gained’ categories.

Adam Scott’s Strokes Gained Stats In Last 24 Rounds at Muirfield Village

Though he hasn’t been playing overly well of late, he had made 14 straight cuts before packing his bags early at the PGA Championship, so his game is reasonably good. Given his prowess at this track, these odds are very tantalizing.

• Pick: Adam Scott (+8000)

Patton Kizzire a Darkhorse Possibility

Patton Kizzire has been on a really inspired stretch of golf, posting back-to-back third place finishes at the AT&T Byron Nelson and the Charles Schwab Challenge. He also ranks tenth in scoring average on Thursday’s this season.

2020-21 PGA Tour First Round Scoring Average Leaders

In his last four opening rounds, Kizzire has shot in the 60’s on all four occasions, good for an average of of 67.75.

The last twelve rounds have been kind, as he’s sixth in SG: approaching the green, tenth in putting and eleventh in total strokes gained, which should give him ample birdie opportunities.

• Pick: Patton Kizzire (+9000)