The Memorial, preview: Maybe Tiger's not so groovy, baby

The case for Tiger Woods this week is a half empty/half full argument. A price of around 3.6 for someone facing a hundred or so rivals, even if he is the best in the world, looks unappetising. Yet on the basis of his season so far you can argue it’s generous, since his winning record is evens.

Then there’s his impressive achievements in this event, not least the three wins in a row around the turn of the century. Looked at another way, however, since then he has placed 22nd, fourth and third twice. Not first. And since he missed out on last year’s fun he’s yet to get to grips with Jack Nicklaus’s famed furrowed bunkers. The furrows, we are told, are slightly less intimidating this year, but Jack’s intention is still to turn them into a genuine punishment for wayward shots.

And while I’m always wary of what Tiger tells the press, it’s clear that with all his dashing to and fro monitoring the imminent birth of his offspring - both human and golfing in the shape of his AT&T baby - there’s been precious little time for match practice. With the US Open in mind he has concentrated instead simply on keeping in shape.

So on balance I’d say Tiger’s tank was half empty, especially in a field as deep as this, with golf’s great and good all limbering up for the Open.

First off, of course, is Phil Mickelson, fourth here last year and playing some stellar stuff since coming under the tutelage of Butch Harmon. Butch promised us a summer of fun between Phil and Tiger so let’s hope it starts here. Before we got too excited, however, it’s important to realise that for both these guys the US Open is the key objective, and much of what they will be doing this week will be geared to that end.

They are also not the world’s best at finding fairways, which is something of a minus on this course. Besides the groovy bunkers, the rough is traditionally tough, although the drought has weakened it this year. Mickelson came fourth last year with a combination of long drives and sharp putting, but the three who beat him were all top 10 for accuracy off the tee.

Others to mention:
Vijay Singh: third at Wentworth last week, but all that pond-hopping might still show him why more American golfers don’t enter Europe’s top events. He has a poor record here over the last three years and is not the most accurate of drivers. But his putting and GIR stats at the moment are hot to trot.
Jim Furyk: A chance to confirm the top form shown last week. A past winner, top 20 in the last two years, and the second most accurate driver in the field: just the sort of profile I like.
Adam Scott: fourth last year and one win under his belt already this season, he was a creditable sixth in his last outing at the Players. His weak driving stats put me off.
Sergio Garcia: Now he’s worked out what a putter is for he looks back on form. But again his wayward tee shots could be his undoing.
Zach Johnson: another with the kind of profile I fancy. Second here last year and a winner two weeks ago. Why not? Only if he’s bored with winning.
Ernie Els: a winner here three years ago, but clearly still struggling to get back to that old form.
Luke Donald: the profile says ‘yes’ if he isn’t too jet-lagged.
Sean O’Hair: this is the first chance to see if he’s got over his punishment at The Players. If he has, count him in as a hot contender - very hot.

I shall also keep an eye on Ken Duke, who has gone off the boil recently, but has the game to suit, and Tom Lehman, another who should prosper on Jack’s track and who looked sharp in coming fifth last week. Jerry Kelly should also be asking some questions of this course.

I also expect another intermittently blinding performance from Anthony Kim. Trouble is, if one of the top players gets his nose in front Kim’s price may not shift very much.