Golf best bets: No pretenders at the Memorial

The PGA Tour heads to Dublin, Ohio this week for the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club, one of our favorite non-majors on the schedule every year. Muirfield is the ultimate tee-to-green test for the best players in the world, so these guys won't be able to fake it around here. 

With Round 1 starting Thursday morning, let's target two ball-striking wizards to get off to hot starts in this week's signature event. 

Xander Schauffele end of Round 1 top-five finish (+400 DraftKings)

Schauffele has been nothing short of incredible in 2024. The American has nine top-10 finishes in 12 stroke-play starts this season, and he's gained strokes in all four major categories in five of his last six starts. He's been especially impressive with his ball striking, as he's gained a mind-numbing 28.56 true strokes from off the tee and on approach over his last two events, per Data Golf.

Schauffele was lucky enough to get an early tee time in the first round of the Memorial, and he ranks No. 1 on Tour this season in early Round 1 scoring average (65.50). No one else is averaging better than 67.38. If you're worried about a hangover from his PGA Championship triumph, don't be. The last time Schauffele won a PGA Tour event, he turned around two weeks later and won his next start. 

Byeong Hun An end of Round 1 top-10 finish (+350 DK)

Success at Muirfield Village depends on your ability to drive the ball long and straight and hold these small, firm greens with long irons. Well, those are An's greatest strengths. 

An ranks third on the PGA Tour this season in driving distance, 12th in total driving, fifth in approaches from 175-200 yards and 34th in approaches from 200-plus yards. The South Korean has gained strokes from off the tee and on approach in six straight starts. He also has two top-five finishes in his last three events, and he gained strokes with his putting in all three. 

An has one of the earliest tee times in Round 1, so the golf course will play softer for him than it will for most players in the field. He should get off to a hot start. 

In the news ...

MLB bans Padres infielder for life for betting on games — Major League Baseball is cracking down on sports betting among players, and Tucupita Marcano learned that the hard way. On Tuesday, MLB banned Marcano for life after the San Diego Padres infielder was caught placing hundreds of bets on baseball, including wagers on Pittsburgh Pirates games while he was with the team last season. According to MLB, Marcano placed 387 baseball bets totaling more than $150,000 and won only 4.3 percent of his MLB bets. 

JJ Redick emerging as favorite to land Lakers job — According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers are "zeroing in" on Redick to become the franchise's next head coach. Former Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego is also a strong candidate, but the Lakers are reportedly leaning toward Redick. This isn't much of a surprise considering Redick recently started a podcast with none other than LeBron James. The Lakers are +4000 to win the NBA title in 2025. 

Gerrit Cole makes first rehab start, closing in on return to Yankees — Cole joined the Double-A Somerset Patriots Tuesday for his first rehab start since going down with a right elbow injury in March, and he looked strong in his return to the mound. The reigning AL Cy Young winner didn't give up a run and surrendered only two singles in 3.1 innings of work against the Hartford Yard Goats. He's scheduled to make another start for the Patriots on Sunday. The Yankees are favored to win the AL at +170, but that number could drop even more when Cole returns to the big leagues. 

Today's Bark Bets is written by Jack Dougherty