The Memorial Tournament Preview 2018

The Memorial Tournament Preview 2018

The Memorial Tournament Presented By Nationwide

Dates: May 28-June 3, 2018
Where: Dublin, Ohio
Course: Muirfield Village Golf Club 36-36—par 72/7,392 yards
Field size: 120
2017 champion: Jason Dufner
Purse: $8,900,000 ($1,602,000/winner)
FedExCup: 500 points to the winner
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Twitter: @MemorialGolf

2018 The Memorial Tournament Preview

• The Tournament, founded and hosted by golf’s greatest champion, Jack Nicklaus, is conducted each year with three goals in mind:
  • to honor the memory of individuals living and deceased who have distinguished themselves in the game of golf;
  • to showcase the world’s best golfers competing on one of the most challenging venues in the world for the enjoyment of spectators;
  • and to benefit many Greater Columbus Charities in alliance with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and numerous other local organizations.

How Jason Dufner won the Memorial Tournament in 2017

• Jason Dufner overcame a four-shot deficit on the final day to win the 2017 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide by three shots over Rickie Fowler and Anirban Lahiri.
• Locked in a battle that saw five players within two shots of the lead with three holes to play and two weather delays, Dufner made a par at the 72nd hole with a putt of 32 feet, 7 inches to secure the victory.
• The win marked Dufner’s fifth PGA TOUR title in his 278th start at the age of 40 years, 2 months, 11 days.
• Born in Cleveland, Dufner became just the second Ohio native to win the Memorial Tournament, joining tournament-host Jack Nicklaus, who won in 1977 and 1984.

Final 2017 Leaderboard

1. Jason Dufner                               65-65-77-68—275 (-13)
t2. Anirban Lahiri                              74-70-69-65—278 (-10)
t2. Rickie Fowler                               70-66-72-70—278 (-10)

 

More on Jason Dufner (No. 62 FedExCup)

• Dufner’s win came in his sixth start in the Memorial Tournament, his previous-best finish a T19 in 2014
• Dufner set the 36-hole Memorial Tournament scoring record at 14-under 130 on his way to victory in 2017.
• Dufner’s four-shot comeback on final day was the second-largest comeback after 54 holes at the Memorial Tournament, tied with five others.
• Dufner’s three-shot margin of victory over Rickie Fowler and Anirban Lahiri was largest in the tournament since Justin Rose defeated Fowler by three in 2010.This season,
• Dufner teamed with Pat Perez to finish runner-up at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He earned his second top-10 of 2017-18 with a T5 at THE PLAYERS Championship.

FedExCup and the Memorial Tournament

• The 2017-18 season marks the 12th year of the FedExCup, the season-long points competition highlighted by four FedExCup Playoff events, with the FedExCup champion being crowned at the completion of the TOUR Championship.
• Some FedExCup notes regarding the Memorial Tournament:
  • Nine of 10 FedExCup champions are in the field: Justin Thomas (2017), Rory McIlroy (2016), Jordan Spieth (2015), Billy Horschel (2014), Henrik Stenson (2013), Bill Haas (2011), Jim Furyk (2010), Vijay Singh (2008), Tiger Woods (2007, 2009).
  • 10 of the 11 winners of the Memorial Tournament since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007 have qualified for the season-ending TOUR Championship. Jason Dufner advanced to last year’s TOUR Championship for the sixth time in his career, posting a T20 at East Lake to finish No. 30 in the FedExCup.
  • Eight of the top 10 and 22 of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings are in the field, highlighted by Justin Thomas who is No. 1.

Tiger Woods (No. 54 FedExCup)

• Woods returns to the Memorial Tournament for the first time since 2015
• Woods is one of six players with multiple wins at the Memorial Tournament; 5/Tiger Woods (1999-2001, 2009, 2012), 3/Kenny Perry (1991, 2003, 2008), 2/Jack Nicklaus (1977, 1984), 2/Hale Irwin (1983, 1985), 2/Greg Norman (1990, 1995), 2/Tom Watson (1979, 1996).
• Woods is the only Memorial Tournament champion to successfully defend at Muirfield Village, winning the event three straight years from 1999-2001.
• The 79-time PGA TOUR winner is in search of his first victory since the 2013 World Golf Championships- Bridgestone Invitational.
• In eight starts this season, Woods has posted two top-fives, including a T2 at the Valspar Championship, where he finished one shot short of a playoff with Paul Casey. He finished T11 at THE PLAYERS Championship in his most recent start.

Justin Thomas (No. 1 FedExCup)

• Participated in three playoffs this season, winning twice (THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, The Honda Classic). He was defeated by Phil Mickelson at the WGC-Mexico Championship.
• After winning the FedExCup in the 2016-17 season, as well as the Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA TOUR Player of the Year, Thomas has been No. 1 in the current FedExCup standings since winning The Honda Classic.
• After a T11 at THE PLAYERS Championship this season, Thomas became the No. 1 player in the world for the first time in his career, overtaking Dustin Johnson.
• Thomas posted a T4 at the Memorial in 2017. He was T37 in his tournament debut in 2014 and missed the cut in 2015 and 2016.

Justin Rose (No. 2 FedExCup)

• Won his first start this season at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and won last week’s Fort Worth Invitational to become the fifth multiple winner this season – Jason Day (2), Patton Kizzire (2), Justin Thomas (2), Bubba Watson (2) and Justin Rose (2).
• Will attempt to join Kenny Perry (2003) as the only player to win the Memorial Tournament after winning a week earlier.
• In Rose’s most recent appearance at Muirfield Village he was seeking to become the seventh player to win the event more than once, but lost a playoff to David Lingmerth on the third extra hole (No. 10). Rose makes his 12th start at the Memorial Tournament where he has six top 10s: P2/2015, T8/2013, 8th/2012, Won/2010, T2/2008, 4th/2004.
• Olympic gold medalist will be joined by silver (Henrik Stenson) and bronze (Matt Kuchar) medalists in the field. The last time all three played in the same event was THE PLAYERS earlier this month.

Jason Day (No. 3 FedExCup)

• One of four multiple winners this season with victories at the Farmers Insurance Open and Wells Fargo Championship.
• Has made six cuts in nine starts at the Memorial Tournament with T15 in 2017 his best result.
• 66 (R1/2016) is low round at Muirfield Village Golf Club, where the Columbus resident is a member.
• Defeated Brandt Snedeker 6 and 4 in Sunday singles match during 2013 Presidents Cup held at Muirfield Village.

Phil Mickelson (No. 4 FedExCup)

• Defeated Justin Thomas in a playoff to win his 43rd PGA TOUR event at the 2018 World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, one of six top-10 results this season.
• In 17 Memorial Tournament starts, has collected top-10s in 2002 (T9), 2006 (T4) and 2010 (T5). Seeking to become the first left-handed player to win the Memorial Tournament. Mike Weir’s T2 in 2008 is the best finish by a left-hander.

Patrick Reed (No. 6 FedExCup)

• Reed claimed his first major championship with victory at the Masters Tournament, one of six top-10 finishes this season.
• Six-time TOUR winner makes his fourth appearance at the Memorial Tournament (T57/2017, T8/2016, T26/2015).

Bubba Watson (No. 7 FedExCup)

• Watson is one of four multiple winners this season with victories at the Genesis Open and the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.
• The 11-time TOUR winner is making his 12th appearance at the Memorial Tournament. His two top-10s have come in his last three appearances (T6/2017, T65/2016, 3rd/2014).

Dustin Johnson (No. 9 FedExCup)

• Johnson has 10 consecutive starts at the Memorial Tournament. Third-place finish in 2016 marked his second top-10 at Muirfield Village Golf Club (4th/2011).
• Johnson posted 10 birdies in opening-round 64 to lead the Memorial Tournament after round one in 2016, eventually finishing third.
• With win at Sentry Tournament of Champions this season (one of five top-10s), Johnson has won for the 11th consecutive season on TOUR (the current-best streak).

Rickie Fowler (No. 21 FedExCup)

• Finished runner-up in the 2017 event at Muirfield Village, three back of Jason Dufner. Also posted a runner-up finish in his first start in the Memorial Tournament when he held at least a share of the lead in each of the first three rounds in 2010.
• Shot final-round 73 to finish three back of Justin Rose.
• In eight starts in the Memorial Tournament, has not posted a top-20 finish outside of the two runner-up results.
• Claimed victory at the 2017 Hero World Challenge in December, but seeks first official win this season. Posted runner-up results at the 2017 OHL Classic at Mayakoba and the Masters Tournament.
• With a T14 finish at last week’s Fort Worth Invitational, his 208th career start, Fowler earned his 100th top-25 PGA TOUR finish.

Jordan Spieth (No. 30 FedExCup)

• Returns to the Memorial Tournament for a sixth appearance. Best finish at the event is T3 in 2015. Beginning in 2013, his five opening rounds at the Memorial Tournament have been par or better (72-69-68-70-66).
• T3 at Houston Open and third at the Masters Tournament are best results this season.
• In 2013, earned a Captain’s Pick from Fred Couples for the U.S. Team for the Presidents Cup played at Muirfield Village where he went 2-2-0. Was also voted Rookie of the Year in 2013.

Hideki Matsuyama (No. 81 FedExCup)

• Matsuyama won the Memorial Tournament in his first appearance in 2014 and returned in 2015 to finish T5. Missed the cut in 2016, T45 in 2017. He was the first player from Japan to win the Memorial Tournament.
• Matsuyama has shot under-par in 10 of 14 rounds at Muirfield Village for a 70.57 scoring average.

Sam Burns

• Burns, 21, has competed in 11 PGA TOUR events, with his best finish as a professional coming in 2018 at The Honda Classic, where he was paired with Tiger Woods in the final round (T8).
• With rounds of 72-65-65-65, he won the 2018 Savannah Golf Championship for his first Web.com Tour title in April.
• Burns needs 74 non-member FedExCup points to secure Special Temporary Membership on the PGA TOUR. He has 195 points and needs to match, or better the 269 points required.
• As an amateur, the LSU standout finished T6 at the 2017 Barbasol Championship after receiving a spot in the field as the Jack Nicklaus Award recipient last year.
• The award, created in 1988, is given annually to the national players of the year at each level of collegiate golf.
• Winners of the Nicklaus Award include Tiger Woods (1996), Phil Mickelson (1990-92), David Duval (1993), Justin Leonard (1994), Stewart Cink (1995), Luke Donald (1999), Hunter Mahan (2003), Bill Haas (2004), Ryan Moore (2005), Justin Thomas (2012), Jon Rahm (2016) and Sam Burns (2017) among many others.

 

Additional Player Notes

• Vijay Singh, the 1997 Memorial Tournament winner, will make his 25th appearance at the Memorial Tournament. Singh comes into the Memorial Tournament having captured his first PGA TOUR Champions individual title earlier this year at the Toshiba Classic.
• Three-time Memorial Tournament champion (1991, 2003, 2008) Kenny Perry makes his 26th appearance, the fourth-most starts of any player.
• The three players with more starts are Jack Nicklaus (30), Jay Haas (29), Roger Maltbie (27). With $3,226,343, Perry sits second behind Tiger Woods ($5,059,620) with most money earned at the Memorial Tournament.
• Ernie Els makes his 24th start at the Memorial Tournament where his win in 2004 was one of six top-10s. Cameron Davis, 23, made his PGA TOUR debut at the 2016 OHL Classic at Mayakoba and finished T15.
• Cameron Davis, 23, made his PGA TOUR debut at the 2016 OHL Classic at Mayakoba and finished T15.
  • The 2015 Australian Amateur Champion was in contention to win the 2016 Asia Pacific Amateur at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea and earn a trip to the Masters Tournament, but a triple-bogey at the final hole dropped him to a fourth-place finish.
  • In 2017, he won the Emirates Australian Open, along with a spot in The Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2018.
  • Prior to his win, Davis spent 2017 competing on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada. He finished at No. 76 on the Order of Merit after recording two top-25 finishes in 11 starts. His best finish on the PGA TOUR thus far in 2018 came at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he finished T58.
  • Last week, he birdied five of his final eight holes to win the Web.com Tour’s Nashville Golf Open by one stroke. It was his first win in his fifth start on the Web.com Tour.
• England’s Harry Ellis won the English Amateur as a 16-year-old in 2012. The following year, his mother passed away after fighting cancer.
  • In 2017, Ellis claimed the Amateur Championship, earning starts in The Open Championship in 2017 (MC), the 2018 Masters Tournament (MC) and the upcoming U.S. Open.
  • Before the Masters, the Florida State golfer defeated U.S. Amateur champion Doc Redman 6 and 5 in the annual Georgia Cup. Redman will make his professional debut at the Memorial Tournament.

Notes on the field

• Eight of the top 10 players in the Official World Golf Ranking: Justin Thomas (No. 1), Dustin Johnson (No. 2), Justin Rose (No. 3), Jordan Spieth (No. 5), Rory McIlroy (No. 6), Rickie Fowler (No. 7), Jason Day (No. 8), Hideki Matsuyama (No. 10) and 32 of the top 50.
• 22 major championship winners with a combined total of 51 major titles, led by Tiger Woods with 14. Seven past winners of the Jack Nicklaus Trophy as PGA TOUR Player of the Year: Justin Thomas (2017), Dustin Johnson (2016), Jordan Spieth (2015), Rory McIlroy (2014, 2012), Tiger Woods (11 times, most recent 2013), Jim Furyk (2010), Vijay Singh (2004).
• 19 PGA TOUR winners this season, including multiple winners Jason Day (2), Patton Kizzire (2), Justin Thomas (2), Bubba Watson (2) and Justin Rose (2).
• 13 past champions of the Memorial Tournament: Jason Dufner (2017), William McGirt (2016), David Lingmerth (2015), Hideki Matsuyama (2014), Matt Kuchar (2013), Tiger Woods (2012, 2009, 2001, 2000, 1999), Justin Rose (2010), Kenny Perry (2008, 2003, 1991), K.J. Choi (2007), Carl Pettersson (2006), Ernie Els (2004), Jim Furyk (2002) and Vijay Singh (1997).

Wednesday Activities

• Tiger Woods is scheduled to play in the pro-am with Peyton Manning. The Wednesday Pro-Am will serve to highlight the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Patient Champion Program.
• The Patient Champion Program is designed to recognize the strong, driving spirit and optimistic outlook of each patient that inspires not only their family and loved ones, but the entire community.
• Eight Patient Champions from Nationwide Children’s Hospital will take center stage on Wednesday as they meet PGA TOUR professionals and enjoy a full morning of VIP tournament experiences. These inspiring children will also have the opportunity to meet special Nationwide guest Peyton Manning, the two-time Super Bowl champion.
• World Golf Hall of Fame Member Hale Irwin is an Honoree for the 2018 Memorial Tournament. Irwin won 20 times on the PGA TOUR, including twice at the Memorial Tournament (1983, 1985) and three U.S. Open Championships (1974, 1979, 1990). He also holds the record for most wins on PGA TOUR Champions (45). Irwin is one of five players to win official tournaments on all six continents where golf is played.
• Willie Turnesa and Jock Hutchison will be honored posthumously.
• The 2018 Memorial Golf Journalism Award, created to honor and pay tribute to golf journalists, will go to Larry Dorman and posthumously to Ron Balicki. The Honoree Ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. and will be followed at 4 p.m. with the Jack Nicklaus Clinic held at the practice facility.
• Wednesday also is Military Appreciation Day. Patrons with an active, retired, reserve or spouse (includes immediate family) with military ID receive complimentary admission to the Tournament. Junior golf fans also receive complimentary admission with a ticketed adult on Wednesday.
• All youth 18 years of age and under receive a free junior ticket as a part of Junior Golf Day.

 

Muirfield Village Golf Club

• Muirfield Village Golf Club is one of four Jack Nicklaus designs on TOUR in 2017-18 (five, if Nicklaus’ re- design of PGA National Resort & Spa/The Honda Classic is included).
• Other Nicklaus courses to host events on TOUR this season include the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West/CareerBuilder Challenge, Montreux G&CC/Barracuda Championship and Glen Abbey GC/RBC Canadian Open.
• Muirfield Village Golf Club was named after Muirfield, Scotland, where Jack Nicklaus won the first of his three Open Championship titles in 1966.
• Along with hosting the Memorial Tournament every year since its inception in 1976, Muirfield Village has also hosted several national championships and international team competitions, including the 1986 U.S. Junior Amateur, the 1987 Ryder Cup, the 1992 U.S. Amateur, the 1998 Solheim Cup and the 2013 Presidents Cup.
• Muirfield Village is the only venue to have hosted the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup and the Presidents Cup.

Charity

• Since 2011, Nationwide Insurance at the Memorial Tournament have raised more than $10.7 million for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, America’s largest pediatric hospital and an international leader in research.

Miscellaneous Tournament Notes

• Since 2005, the Memorial Tournament has been decided by two strokes or less each year, except for 2010 and 2017. Rickie Fowler was runner-up, three shots back on both occasions.
• There have been seven playoffs for the title, including the inaugural tournament in 1976 when Roger Maltbie won.
• Other playoffs occurred in 1984, 1991 and 1992, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Nine international players have won the event (David Lingmerth/Sweden/2015, Hideki Matsuyama/Japan/2014, Justin Rose/England/2010, K.J. Choi/South Korea/2007, Carl Pettersson/Sweden/2006, Ernie Els/South Africa/2004, Vijay Singh/Fiji/1997, Greg Norman/Australia/1995/1990, David Graham/Australia/1980).
• No player has ever taken less than 100 putts at the Memorial Tournament, however, four players have used exactly 100 putts: Spencer Levin (2012), Joe Ogilvie (2008), John Mallinger (2008) and Ernie Els (2004).
• Since 1983 when records began, three players have scored an ace during the tournament and gone on to win, most recently Steve Stricker in 2011. Jim Furyk (2002) and Kenny Perry (1991) are the other players to achieve this feat.
• Harold Varner III was the last player to make an ace at the Memorial Tournament, holing his tee shot at the par-3 eighth hole in the final round of 2017.
• There has never been a wire-to-wire winner at the Memorial Tournament.
• The Memorial Tournament has seen at least one weather delay in 25 of the 42 times the event has been played.
• The 36-hole cut of 142 (-2) in 2016 is the lowest in tournament history.
• John Huston holds the 18-hole tournament record 11-under 61, posted in round one in 1996.
• Tom Lehman owns the 72-hole tournament record of 268 (-20), set in 1994.
• In 166 competitive rounds at Muirfield Village Golf Club, the scoring average has been below 71 only 12 times.

The Memorial Tournament Preview 2018 via PGA TOUR