Memorial Tournament 2026 First-Round Leader Tips: Dave Tindall's three to back up to 66/1

Memorial Tournament weather forecast for Thursday

Round one looks the calmest of the four days in terms of wind. It's not really a factor at 5-7mph throughout.

Tee-times begin at 07:45 and, in two-balls, run until 13:55.

Temperatures start in the low 60s for the first groups out and peak at in the early 80s around 2pm.

It's hard to see any real tee-time advantage.

First Round Leader Bet 1: Rory McIlroy @ 18/119.00

I didn't play him in the outrights at 10s (too short for my each-way preview) but I do fancy a pro-Rory McIlroy bet this week and FRL could work well.

The theory is based on the idea from McIlroy himself that the latter part of his career is about completing his bucket list.

And winning at Jack Nicklaus's Muirfield Village must surely be something he wants to tick off.

While five top 10s and a best of fourth in 13 starts at Memorial is nothing special for Rory, he has actually held the first-round lead here twice.

Even more compelling is that he's had a piece of the 18-hole lead in three of his last nine worldwide starts. The latter two also came on iconic courses: Riviera and Augusta.

Rested since seventh at the US PGA where he closed 67-66-69, the US Masters champ will be fresh and hopefully we see him burst out of the blocks from his 10:25 tee-time.

Take the 18s (1/4 Odds, 5 Places).

First Round Leader Bet 2: Nick Taylor @ 45/146.00

Nick Taylor, a straight hitter who hits his irons very well and is a master craftsman around the greens, is a great fit for the modern Muirfield Village.

That definitely came through last year when he was the halfway leader before finishing fourth.

He's played the event on six occasions and three times Taylor has opened with rounds in the 60s on Jack's par 72. The reward was first-round positions of fourth, fifth and ninth so it's common to see him on the day one leaderboard here.

The Canadian also brings recent fast starts to the table. He was 10th after day one at the US Masters while in May opening 66s at the Cadillac Championship and Truist Championship saw him land in the top four after 18 holes on both occasions.

Taylor is an easy sell so back the 08:45 starter at 45s.

First Round Leader Bet 3: Tony Finau @ 66/167.00

Tony Finau has three top eights and a further two top 15s from his nine starts at Memorial and he's always enjoyed this sort of test - bit of length, bentgrass greens.

He was the first-round leader in 2020 and, starting from that event to last year's edition, Finau has had 36-hole positions of 1-9-7-18, so he's often around the lead pre-cut.

While it hasn't been a great year overall, Finau has done his best work on day one and he's shot in the 60s in seven of his last nine opening rounds.

In April he was second after Thursday's play in the Texas Open and last month he sat eighth after the completion of round one at the Truist Championship.

Although he's missed two of his last four cuts, Finau carded rounds of 63 and 65 on his way to sixth place at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson just two starts ago.

Back the 11:25 starter at 66s.

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