Ahead of the Workday Charity Open, Compleat Golfer staffers pick their winners, contenders and players who may just miss the weekend.
Winner
Wade Pretorius: When in doubt, go Brooks Koepka. He may just tear this week’s course apart with his power game. He’ll have some fending to do, though, with Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas in the field. In truth, the trio all need a big week to arrest some pretty ordinary form over the past month.
Andre Huisamen: Bryson DeChambeau’s absence from the event makes it a tricky call as he would definitely have been my favourite for the third week running. But, this week I’ll give the nod to another American, Patrick Cantlay, who’s had a great deal of success at Muirfield Village in the past. As the defending champion next week (at the same venue), he will be hoping to perform well in week one. The bookies have him as T2 favourite …
MJ Daffue: South Africa’s qualifying star
Top 10
Pretorius: I like Rickie Fowler this week to be near the top (but without winning). He’s been indifferent since golf resumed and even tinkered with his clubs. He’s searching for something … but there was enough in the form of last week to suggest he may be there or thereabouts on Sunday.
Huisamen: Another previous winner at the event, Hideki Matsuyama, will be targeting this week for a strong finish. The Japanese star is well set to take advantage of the long, wide fairways of Muirfield which will certainly present him with opportunities to attack. He also finished last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic on a high of struggling in the opening two rounds, meaning he’ll have a bit of momentum going into Thursday’s start.
Social golf on Saturday
Pretorius: Strange after I picked him to win last week – what was I thinking?! – but Patrick Reed already has two missed cuts since the restart. I’ll call him to make it three …
Huisamen: Since finishing in T3 at the Charles Schwab Challenge a few weeks ago, Xander Schauffele has looked somewhat unsettled. He’s also struggled the two times he’s played at Muirfield Village in the past with his poor putting a key factor. I won’t be surprised if he struggles in the opening two rounds of the Workday Charity Open. It’s a big call with the X-Man inside the top five with the bookies ahead of the tournament.
