The Betting Bunker: Three golf betting tips for the 2025 Memorial Tournament
Many of the top names are in action once again this week on the PGA Tour.
Odds Now's golf expert Ross Kilvington (@Kilvington91) has cast his eye over the 2025 Memorial Tournament, which tees off on Thursday. Our man singles out three fancies for this week's card.
Memorial Tournament 2025 – key betting insights
The PGA Tour moves from Texas to Ohio this week as the Memorial takes place at Muirfield Village.
The tournament is founded and hosted by Jack Nicklaus and it has been an even on tour since 1976. Since 2024, It has been given signature status, meaning only the very best in the world take part.
With just two weeks until the U.S. Open, the field will be looking to finetune their games on one of the toughest course on the PGA Tour.
The par-72, 7,352 yard course was designed by Nicklaus himself and water comes into play across 11 holes.
Wide fairways are deceptive as the rough is penal, while the greens are smaller than average and run extremely fast. Think of it as the perfect warm up for the upcoming U.S. Open at Oakmont next month.
Ben Griffin is the latest winner on tour, claiming the Charles Schwab Challenge last week. Scottie Scheffler headlines a strong field and will be keen to build on his recent form that has seen him win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and the PGA Championship.
We at Odds Now look at three players from the top, middle and lower ends of the betting market for the Memorial tournament.
Selection #1 - Xander Schaufelle 18/1 (LiveScore Bet, 6 places)
Since making his debut at the event in 2018, Schauffele has made seven out of eight cuts, finishing no lower than 25th.
Last year saw the American record a T8 finish and it would have been higher had a final round 75 not derailed his challenge.
He is slowly returning to the form that saw him secure two major titles last year. A rib injury hampered the first three months of his year.
Indeed, he has finished in the top 30 across his previous five starts, including an impressive T8 at Augusta.
His excellent approach play and length off the tee will stand Schauffele in good stead this week. The key for him now is stringing together four solid rounds in the one tournament.
Do that, and the American will return to the winners circle sooner rather than later.
Selection #2 - Sepp Straka - 40/1 (Betfair, 6 places)
The Austrian may have missed the cut at both the Masters and the PGA, but progress has certainly been made over the previous 12 months.
Straka won on the PGA Tour in 2022 and 2023, but he has already won twice in 15 events so far in 2025, pushing him into the top ten in the World Rankings.
Last year, he trailed Scheffler by four shots heading into Sunday at Muirfield Village. Although he shot a final round 76, Straka finished fifth in the end.
His confidence is much higher 12 months on, especially after winning the American Express and the Truist Championship, with the latter being a signature event.
Straka’s approach play is among the finest on tour. He ranks first for Greens in Regulation (72%) and second for SG: Approach to Green. Considering the undulating putting surfaces are smaller than usual, this ability to find the green will give him a huge advantage over the four days.
A third win of the season will give him a massive boost heading into the U.S. Open.
Selection #3 - Denny McCarthy 45/1 (Ladbrokes, 8 places)
McCarthy may not have won on the PGA Tour in his career, but the American has been incredibly consistent in 2025.
13 events played, 13 cuts made. A T5 at the Gensis Invitational, played on the notorious Riveria course, was a sign of things to come. At the PGA Championship, the 32-year-old recorded his second-best finish at a major, shooting a final round 70 to seal a T8 result.
Two years ago, McCarthy played superbly, eventually making it into a playoff with Victor Hovland. The Norwegian may have won that on the first extra hole, but it should give him plenty of hope heading into the signature event.
He finished T5 the year before and it is evident his game suits the course fairly well. McCarthy ranks 6th on tour for SG: Putting and 19th for scrambling. Given how penal the rough is, combined with the small greens, missing the putting surface means trouble.
With McCarthy’s ability to save par from around the green, this could see him potentially replicate his top-five finishes from 2022 and 2023.
Ross' three Memorial Tournament 2025 betting picks
1pt ew - Xander Schaufelle - 18/1 (LiveScore Bet, 6 places)
1pt ew - Sepp Straka - 40/1 (Betfair, 6 places)
1pt ew - Denny McCarthy 45/1 (Ladbrokes, 8 places)
Total stake - 5pts (all place bets settled at 1/5 odds)
Seasonal Stats
Events tipped by Ross - 10
Total staked in 2025: 44pts
Total returns in 2025: 36.6pts
P/L in 2025: -7.4pts