Eric Cole vs. Sam Stevens

Sam Stevens is in a Signature Event field as one of the longer shots, without an established résumé at Muirfield Village to lean on. Eric Cole enters this week off one of the best finishes of his career. He lost to Russell Henley in a playoff at Colonial last week — carrying a lead deep into Sunday before a late birdie surge stole it from him. His short game ranks fifth on Tour this season, his putting ranks ninth — both skills that produce results on Muirfield Village's fast, undulating bentgrass greens. Cole hits it shorter than most in this field off the tee, but the fairways at Jack's Place are among the more forgiving on Tour, and what matters is everything that follows the tee shot. His approach has been positive this season and elite in the scoring areas. Coming in playing the best golf of his year, against a player without a comparable profile or established form at this venue, the edge is clear. Cole takes this matchup.