Steve Palmer's Workday Charity Open third-round preview, best bets, free tips

When to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 12pm Saturday

Best bet

Viktor Hovland top European
2pts Evens Coral, Ladbrokes

Story so far

Collin Morikawa has understandably fallen in love with Muirfield Village and the Californian youngster takes a three-shot lead into the weekend of the Workday Charity Open.

Morikawa, who has quickly established himself as one of the best iron-players on the PGA Tour, is relishing the challenging approach shots of Muirfield Village and has dominated the event over the first two days.

The 23-year-old, winner of the Barracuda Championship last season in just his sixth start as a professional, has reached 13 under par through 36 holes of the WCO. Rounds of 65 and 66 have sent Morikawa clear, but the ante-post 33-1 chance will have to repel some top-class talent if he is to claim a second Tour title on Sunday.

Justin Thomas has moved menacingly into a tie for second place and has not dropped a shot all week, while Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland are lurking just off the pace, top. Storm delays mean a few groups are yet to finish their second round, so the third-round draw is yet to be made.

Leaderboard
-13 Collin Morikawa
-10 Kevin Streelman, Justin Thomas
-9 Sam Burns, Hideki Matsuyama
-8 Viktor Hovland, Rory Sabbatini (through 35)
-7 Ian Poulter, Chase Seiffert

Best prices
15-8 C Morikawa, 3 J Thomas, 13-2 H Matsuyama, 10 K Streelman, 14 V Hovland, 33 S Burns, P Reed, 50 bar

Third-round preview

Lack of Muirfield Village experience and the possible lingering after-effects of his Colonial near-miss were the two main reasons for leaving Collin Morikawa out of the pre-tournament staking plan. One concern has rapidly been expunged, but the other is still very much in play.

There are few layouts on the circuit more suitable to Morikawa than this one. It is doubtful whether a better iron-player than a vintage Tiger Woods will ever exist, but the pin-peppering performances of Morikawa in the early stages of his PGA Tour career have certainly encouraged some tentative comparison.

The leader has taken to the track like the proverbial duck to water, but Morikawa still has to prove that he has shaken off the trauma of the Charles Schwab Challenge, the opening event of the Tour's resumption. He missed a short putt to win on the 72nd hole, then another ugly putting stroke saw him surrender in his playoff against Daniel Berger.

Subsequent outings painted the picture of a player who had had the stuffing knocked out of him – a 64th-place finish in the Heritage followed by a missed cut in the Travelers Championship – but he has actually found some form on the greens at Muirfield Village to revive his campaign. Putting is a weakness, but this week Morikawa has been rolling his rock well, so his supporters will have high hopes.

The last thing he and they needed, though, was Justin Thomas moving into second place. The world number five has gone bogey-free despite an ice-cold putter. His approach-play has been excellent and he has produced magnificent recovery shots from around the greens on the occasions he has got in trouble.

Thomas usually clicks into top gear on the greens at some stage in a tournament and the suspicion is he has one seriously low round in him over the weekend. A softened course is there for the taking and JT, one of the most prolific champions on the planet, will be sensing his opportunity. In a tight duel with Morikawa down the stretch on Sunday, the 12-time Tour champ would be strongly favoured.

There is much water to pass under the bridge until that can happen, though, with Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland particularly dangerous members of the chasing pack.

The most significant negative against Hovland ante-post – like with Morikawa – was the fact he was making his Muirfield Village debut. He struggled early on and slipped three over par through ten holes, but the Norwegian youngster has been impressive since and looks a solid bet at even-money with Coral and Ladbrokes to finish the week as top European.

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