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Memorial Tournament

Coordinates: 40°08′25″N 83°08′29″W / 40.1404°N 83.1414°W / 40.1404; -83.1414
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Memorial Tournament
Tournament information
LocationDublin, Ohio
Established1976, 49 years ago
Course(s)Muirfield Village Golf Club
Par72
Length7,392 yards (6,759 m)[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund$9.3 million
Month playedMay/June
(July in 2020)
Tournament record score
Aggregate268 Tom Lehman (1994)
To par−20 Tom Lehman (1994)
Current champion
Spain Jon Rahm
Muirfield Village is located in Ohio
Muirfield Village
Muirfield Village
class=notpageimage|
Location in Ohio

The Memorial Tournament is a PGA Tour golf tournament founded in 1976 by Jack Nicklaus. It is played on a Nicklaus-designed course at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb north of Columbus. The golf course passes through a large neighborhood called Muirfield Village, which includes a 1999 bronze sculpture of Nicklaus mentoring a young golfer located in the wide median of Muirfield Drive.[2][3]

One of the main features of the tournament is a yearly induction ceremony honoring past golfers. A plaque for each honoree is installed near the clubhouse at Muirfield; Nicklaus himself was the 2000 honoree.

The purse was increased over 37% for the 2016 edition, from $6.2 to $8.5 million.[4]

Vision

The greater Columbus area is where Nicklaus was born, raised, learned the game of golf, went to college, and started his own family. It was his vision to create a golf club that embodied his personal and professional life and to create a golf tournament that would long represent his passion for tournament golf, and would give back to a community that has embraced him and the game. This was fulfilled in May 1976 with the first Memorial Tournament, two years to the day after the course opened at Muirfield Village. The par-72 course was set at 7,072 yards (6,467 m),[5] a considerable length for the mid-1970s.

Nicklaus signaled his intent to host his own tournament during Masters Week in 1966, when he spoke of his desire to create a tournament that, like The Masters, had a global interest, and was inspired by the history and traditions of the game of golf. He also wanted the tournament to give back in the form of charitable contributions to organizations benefiting needy adults and children throughout Columbus and Ohio. The primary charitable beneficiary of the tournament is Nationwide Children's Hospital.

The Memorial reached the height of its popularity in the 1990s having reached "sold-out" status, a first on the PGA Tour other than the major championships. For a variety of reasons, the event has started seeing ticket sales decrease during the last five years.

Invitational status

The Memorial Tournament is one of only five tournaments given "invitational" status by the PGA Tour, and consequently it has a reduced field of only 120 players (as opposed to most full-field open tournaments with a field of 156 players). The other four tournaments with invitational status are the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the RBC Heritage, Charles Schwab Challenge, and the Tiger Woods Foundation tournament (originally the Quicken Loans National until 2018, to be replaced in 2020 by the Genesis Open). Invitational tournaments have smaller fields (between 120 and 132 players), and have more freedom than full-field open tournaments in determining which players are eligible to participate in their event, as invitational tournaments are not required to fill their fields using the PGA Tour Priority Ranking System. Furthermore, unlike full-field open tournaments, invitational tournaments do not offer open qualifying (aka Monday qualifying).

In June 2014, the PGA Tour approved a resolution to grant the winner a three-year exemption, one more than other regular Tour events and on par with winners of the World Golf Championships, The Tour Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.[6]

Field

The field consists of 120 players invited using the following criteria:[7]

  1. Memorial winners in the last five years or prior to 1997
  2. The Players Championship and major championship winners in the last five years
  3. The Tour Championship, World Golf Championships, and Arnold Palmer Invitational winners in the past three years
  4. Tournament winners in the past year
  5. Playing member of last named U.S. Ryder Cup team, European Ryder Cup team, U.S. Presidents Cup team, and International Presidents Cup team (non-PGA Tour members qualifying in this category count against unrestricted sponsor exemptions)
  6. Prior year U.S. Amateur winner
  7. Prior year British Amateur winner
  8. Up to four players selected by the tournament from among the money leaders from the other five Federation tours
  9. 14 sponsors exemptions – 2 from among graduates of the Web.com Tour Finals, 6 members not otherwise exempt, and 6 unrestricted
  10. Top 50 Official World Golf Ranking as of the Friday before the tournament
  11. Top 70 from prior year's FedEx Cup points list
  12. PGA Tour members whose non-member FedEx Cup points the previous season (excluding WGCs) would have placed them in the top 70
  13. Top 70 from current year's FedEx Cup points list as of the Friday before the tournament
  14. Prior year college player of the year (Jack Nicklaus Award)
  15. Remaining positions filled alternating from current year's and prior year's FedEx Cup point lists

Tournament highlights

  • 1976: Roger Maltbie won the inaugural Memorial Tournament, defeating Hale Irwin in a four-hole aggregate playoff. On the third extra hole Maltbie's errant approach shot appeared headed for the gallery when it hit a post, causing the ball to bounce onto the green, where both parred to remain tied; Maltbie then birdied the 18th hole to win the playoff.[5]
  • 1977: Poor weather resulted in a Monday finish for the tournament; host Jack Nicklaus won by two shots over Hubert Green.[8]
  • 1980: David Graham birdied the 72nd hole to edge Tom Watson by one shot; Watson was bidding to become the first Memorial champion to defend his title.[9]
  • 1984: Jack Nicklaus defeated Andy Bean in a sudden-death playoff to become the first two-time Memorial winner.[10]
  • 1991: Kenny Perry won for the first time on the PGA Tour, defeating Irwin on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.[11]
  • 1993: Paul Azinger birdied the 72nd hole by holing out from a bunker to finish one shot ahead of Corey Pavin.[12]
  • 1994: Tom Lehman shot a tournament record 268 (-20) for 72 holes on his way to a five-shot victory over Greg Norman.[13]
  • 2000: Tiger Woods became the first Memorial winner to successfully defend his title, finishing five shots clear of Ernie Els.[14]
  • 2001: Woods won for a third consecutive year, seven shots ahead of runners-up Paul Azinger and Sergio García.[15]
  • 2005: Bart Bryant saved par from a hazard on the 72nd hole to win by one shot over Fred Couples.[16]
  • 2007: K. J. Choi shot a final round 65 to win by one shot over Ryan Moore.[17]
  • 2012: Woods birdied three of the last four holes, including a chip in on the 16th hole, to turn a two-shot deficit into a two-shot victory. The win was Woods' 73rd PGA Tour victory, which tied Jack Nicklaus for second most PGA Tour wins.[18]
  • 2013: Defending champion Woods posted a third round back nine score of 44, the worst in his career. He finished 20 shots behind winner Matt Kuchar.
  • 2014: Hideki Matsuyama won in a playoff against Kevin Na;[19] he was the first Japanese PGA Tour winner since 2008.
  • 2015: In the third round, Tiger Woods shot an 85, the worst round of his professional career. Three-time winner Kenny Perry played his last PGA Tour event.
  • 2016: William McGirt won for the first time on the PGA Tour after 165 starts.
  • 2020: Jon Rahm's win elevated him to the world number one ranking for the first time in his career.

Course layout

Muirfield Village Golf Club in 2016

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Yards 470 455 401 200 527 447 563 185 412 3,660 471 567 184 455 363 529 201 478 484 3,732 7,392
Par 4 4 4 3 5 4 5 3 4 36 4 5 3 4 4 5 3 4 4 36 72

Source:[1]

Winners and Honorees

Year Winner Country Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Winner's
share ($)		 Honoree(s)[20]
2020 Jon Rahm  Spain 279 −9 3 strokes United States Ryan Palmer 1,674,000 Nick Price, Gene Littler[a], Ted Ray[a]
2019 Patrick Cantlay  US 269 −19 2 strokes Australia Adam Scott 1,638,000 Judy Rankin
2018 Bryson DeChambeau  US 273 −15 Playoff South Korea An Byeong-hun
United States Kyle Stanley		 1,602,000 Hale Irwin, Jock Hutchison[a], Willie Turnesa[a]
2017 Jason Dufner  US 275 −13 3 strokes United States Rickie Fowler
India Anirban Lahiri		 1,566,000 Greg Norman, Tony Lema[a], Ken Venturi[a], Harvie Ward[a]
2016 William McGirt  US 273 −15 Playoff United States Jon Curran 1,530,000 Johnny Miller, Leo Diegel[a], Horton Smith[a]
2015 David Lingmerth  Sweden 273 −15 Playoff England Justin Rose 1,160,000 Nick Faldo, Dorothy Campbell[a], Jerome Travers[a], Walter Travis[a]
2014 Hideki Matsuyama  Japan 275 −13 Playoff United States Kevin Na 1,160,000 Annika Sörenstam, Jim Barnes[a], Joe Carr[a], Willie Park Sr.[a]
2013 Matt Kuchar  US 276 −12 2 strokes United States Kevin Chappell 1,160,000 Raymond Floyd
2012 Tiger Woods (5)  US 279 −9 2 strokes Argentina Andrés Romero
South Africa Rory Sabbatini		 1,160,000 Tom Watson
2011 Steve Stricker  US 272 −16 1 stroke United States Brandt Jobe
United States Matt Kuchar		 1,160,000 Nancy Lopez
2010 Justin Rose  England 270 −18 3 strokes United States Rickie Fowler 1,080,000 Seve Ballesteros
2009 Tiger Woods (4)  US 276 −12 1 stroke United States Jim Furyk 1,080,000 JoAnne Carner, Jack Burke, Jr.
2008 Kenny Perry (3)  US 280 −8 2 strokes Australia Mathew Goggin
United States Jerry Kelly
England Justin Rose
Canada Mike Weir		 1,080,000 Tony Jacklin, Ralph Guldahl[a],
Charles B. Macdonald, Craig Wood[a]
2007 K. J. Choi  South Korea 271 −17 1 stroke United States Ryan Moore 1,080,000 Louise Suggs, Dow Finsterwald
2006 Carl Pettersson  Sweden 276 −12 2 strokes United States Zach Johnson
United States Brett Wetterich		 1,035,000 Michael Bonallack, Charles Coe[a], Lawson Little[a],
Henry Picard[a], Paul Runyan[a], Denny Shute[a]
2005 Bart Bryant  US 272 −16 1 stroke United States Fred Couples 990,000 Betsy Rawls, Cary Middlecoff[a]
2004 Ernie Els  South Africa 270 −18 4 strokes United States Fred Couples 945,000 Lee Trevino, Joyce Wethered[a]
2003 Kenny Perry (2)  US 275 −13 2 strokes United States Lee Janzen 900,000 Julius Boros[a], William C. Campbell
2002 Jim Furyk  US 274 −14 2 strokes United States John Cook
United States David Peoples		 810,000 Kathy Whitworth, Bobby Locke[a]
2001 Tiger Woods (3)  US 271 −17 7 strokes United States Paul Azinger
Spain Sergio García		 738,000 Payne Stewart[a]
2000 Tiger Woods (2)  US 269 −19 5 strokes South Africa Ernie Els
United States Justin Leonard		 558,000 Jack Nicklaus
1999 Tiger Woods  US 273 −15 2 strokes Fiji Vijay Singh 459,000 Ben Hogan[a]
1998 Fred Couples  US 271 −17 4 strokes United States Andrew Magee 396,000 Peter Thomson
1997 Vijay Singh  Fiji 202[b] −14 2 strokes United States Jim Furyk
Australia Greg Norman		 342,000 Gary Player
1996 Tom Watson (2)  US 274 −14 2 strokes United States David Duval 324,000 Billy Casper
1995 Greg Norman (2)  Australia 269 −19 4 strokes United States Mark Calcavecchia
United States David Duval
United States Steve Elkington		 306,000 Willie Anderson[a], John Ball[a], James Braid[a],
Harold Hilton[a], J.H. Taylor[a]
1994 Tom Lehman  US 268 −20 5 strokes Australia Greg Norman 270,000 Mickey Wright
1993 Paul Azinger  US 274 −14 1 stroke United States Corey Pavin 252,000 Arnold Palmer
1992 David Edwards  US 273 −15 Playoff United States Rick Fehr 234,000 Joseph Dey[a]
1991 Kenny Perry  US 273 −15 Playoff United States Hale Irwin 216,000 Babe Zaharias[a]
1990 Greg Norman  Australia 216[b] E 1 stroke United States Payne Stewart 180,000 Jimmy Demaret[a]
1989 Bob Tway  US 277 −11 2 strokes United States Fuzzy Zoeller 160,000 Henry Cotton[a]
1988 Curtis Strange  US 274 −14 2 strokes South Africa David Frost
United States Hale Irwin		 160,000 Patty Berg
1987 Don Pooley  US 272 −16 3 strokes United States Curt Byrum 140,000 Old Tom Morris[a], Young Tom Morris[a]
1986 Hal Sutton  US 271 −17 4 strokes United States Don Pooley 100,000 Roberto De Vicenzo
1985 Hale Irwin (2)  US 281 −7 1 stroke United States Lanny Wadkins 100,000 Chick Evans[a]
1984 Jack Nicklaus (2)  US 280 −8 Playoff United States Andy Bean 90,000 Sam Snead
1983 Hale Irwin  US 281 −7 1 stroke United States Ben Crenshaw
Australia David Graham		 72,000 Tommy Armour[a]
1982 Raymond Floyd  US 281 −7 2 strokes United States Peter Jacobsen
United States Wayne Levi
United States Roger Maltbie
United States Gil Morgan		 63,000 Glenna Collett-Vare
1981 Keith Fergus  US 284 −4 1 stroke United States Jack Renner 63,000 Harry Vardon[a]
1980 David Graham  Australia 280 −8 1 stroke United States Tom Watson 54,000 Byron Nelson
1979 Tom Watson  US 285 −3 3 strokes United States Miller Barber 54,000 Gene Sarazen
1978 Jim Simons  US 284 −4 1 stroke United States Billy Kratzert 50,000 Francis Ouimet[a]
1977 Jack Nicklaus  US 281 −7 2 strokes United States Hubert Green 45,000 Walter Hagen[a]
1976 Roger Maltbie  US 288 E Playoff United States Hale Irwin 40,000 Bobby Jones[a]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as Posthumously honored
  2. ^ a b Tournament shortened to 54 holes by rain.

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Source:[21][22]

Multiple winners

Six men have won the Memorial Tournament more than once through 2019.

References

  1. ^ a b "Course map". Memorial Tournament. 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  2. ^ "Jack Nicklaus tribute sculpture". (Ohio): Dublin Arts Council. Archived from the original on March 29, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  3. ^ "Jack Nicklaus – Dublin Icon". (Ohio): City of Dublin. August 9, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  4. ^ "The Memorial Tournament and Nationwide agree to sponsorship extension through 2021". Memorial Tournament. (press release). December 15, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Roger Maltbie wins Memorial
  6. ^ "Boost to Arnie and Jack tourneys". ESPN. Associated Press. June 3, 2014.
  7. ^ "2015–16 PGA Tour Player Handbook & Tournament Regulations" (PDF). October 5, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2016.
  8. ^ Nicklaus wins Memorial Golf
  9. ^ Graham outlasts Watson!
  10. ^ Nicklaus wins in playoff
  11. ^ Perry defeats Irwin in Memorial
  12. ^ GOLF; Azinger's 'Miracle' Shot From Bunker Wins by 1
  13. ^ Lehman devours Memorial
  14. ^ Another first for Woods
  15. ^ "Golf: Woods crushes Memorial field". The New Zealand Herald. June 5, 2001. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  16. ^ "Bryant earns second career tour victory". ESPN.
  17. ^ "K.J. Choi wins the Memorial". UPI.
  18. ^ "Tiger Woods rallies to win Memorial, ties Jack Nicklaus with 73 PGA Tour victories". PGA of America.
  19. ^ "Hideki Matsuyama wins the Memorial Tournament in a playoff". PGA Tour.
  20. ^ "The Memorial Tournament Honorees". The Memorial Tournament. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  21. ^ Memorial Tournament – Winners Archived 2014-12-04 at the Wayback Machine – at www.pgatour.com
  22. ^ "Retrospective: scoreboard". Memorial Tournament. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2012.

40°08′25″N 83°08′29″W / 40.1404°N 83.1414°W / 40.1404; -83.1414

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