The Memorial Tournament Preview 2020

The Memorial Tournament Preview 2020
  • Dates: July 13-19, 2020
  • Where: Dublin, Ohio
  • Course: Muirfield Village Golf Club (36-36—72/7,456)
  • Field size: 132
  • Defending champion: Patrick Cantlay
  • Purse: $9,300,000 ($1,674,000/winner)
  • FedExCup: 500 points to the winner
  • Format: 72-hole stroke play

Fast Facts

  • Five-time winner Tiger Woods makes his first start since the season was suspended in March; in search of record- breaking 83rd career PGA TOUR victory
  • Workday Charity Open winner Collin Morikawa seeks win in back-to-back weeks at Muirfield Village
  • 2019 champion Patrick Cantlay looks to join Tiger Woods as only players to win the Memorial Tournament in consecutive years
  • Marks third event since the season resumed to feature each of the top-five players in the Official World Golf Ranking

Notes on the field

  • Each of the top 10 in current FedExCup standings (third time in the 2019-20 season and first since season resumed)
  • 48 of the top 50 in current FedExCup standings (most of any event in the 2019-20 season)
  • 28 of the top 30 from the 2019 TOUR Championship field (most of any event in the 2019-20 season)
  • Third event out of six since the season resumed with each of the top five in the OWGR
  • 43 of the top 50 in OWGR (most of any 500-point event in the FedExCup era)
  • Each of the five winners since the season resumed in June (Daniel Berger, Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa)
  • 15 past champions of the Memorial Tournament: Vijay Singh (1997), Jim Furyk (2002), Ernie Els (2004), Carl Pettersson (2006), K.J. Choi (2007), Justin Rose (2010), Steve Stricker (2011), Tiger  Woods  (1999,  2000,  2001, 2009, 2012), Matt Kuchar (2013), Hideki Matsuyama (2014), David Lingmerth (2015), William McGirt (2016), Jason Dufner (2017), Bryson DeChambeau (2018), Patrick Cantlay (2019)
  • Nine FedExCup champions: Vijay Singh (2008), Tiger Woods (2007, 2009), Jim Furyk (2010), Brandt Snedeker (2012), Billy Horschel (2014), Jordan Spieth (2015), Justin Thomas (2017), Justin Rose (2018), Rory McIlroy (2016, 2019)
  • 89 players who competed in last week’s Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village

FedExCup and the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide

  • The winner of the Memorial Tournament has qualified for the TOUR Championship in 12 of 13 years since the inception of the FedExCup
  • Tiger Woods (2009) is the only player to win the Memorial Tournament and the FedExCup in the same season
  • Collin Morikawa entered the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 for the first time in his career after winning the Workday Charity Open; four players aged 23 or younger (Jordan Spieth/4 times, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm) have finished inside the final Wyndham Rewards Top 10 since 2009
  • Webb Simpson (No. 2) and Rory McIlroy (No. 5) are the only two players from last season’s final Wyndham Rewards Top 10 who are currently inside the top 10 with five weeks left in the Regular Reason

Current FedExCup standings

  • The top 10 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the PGA TOUR Regular Season will be recognized through the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 program and be well-positioned entering the FedExCup Playoffs
PositionPlayerPointsWinsTop-10sPoints BehindStartsProjected Bonus
1Justin Thomas1,8432812$2 million
2Webb Simpson1,660261838$1.5 million
3Sungjae Im1,5421630119$1.2 million
4Bryson DeChambeau1,5141832911$1.1 million
5Rory McIlroy1,270165739$1.0 million
6Collin Morikawa1,2471559615$850,000
7Patrick Reed1,2091563413$700,000
8Brendon Todd1,1712367218$600,000
9Lanto Griffin1,0941374921$550,000
10Daniel Berger1,0911575211$500,000

A look back at the 2019 the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide

Pos.NameR1R2R3R4Total
1Patrick Cantlay68696864269 (-19)
2Adam Scott71666668271 (-17)
3Martin Kaymer67686672273 (-15)
4Kevin Streelman72686966275 (-13)
5Marc Leishman67716969276 (-12)

Player Notes

Tiger Woods (No. 41 FedExCup, No. 14 OWGR)

  • In search of 83rd PGA TOUR victory; tied Sam Snead for the most all-time with his 82nd win at the 2019 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Making first PGA TOUR start since The Genesis Invitational in February (finished 68th)
  • Next top-10 finish will mark the 200th of his PGA TOUR career
  • Five-time winner of the Memorial Tournament (most in tournament history)
  • Only player to successfully defend a title in tournament history, winning the event three straight years (1999, 2000, 2001)
  • Tied with Jay Haas for most top-10s in tournament history (9)
  • Holds record for largest margin of victory in tournament history (7/2001)

Rory McIlroy (No. 5 FedExCup, No. 1 OWGR)

  • Started 2019-20 season with six consecutive top-fives, including a win at the WGC-HSBC Champions, but has yet  to record a top-10 result since the season resumed
  • Trying to become first player to win FedExCup title in back-to-back seasons
  • Making ninth appearance at the Memorial Tournament and has four top-10s (T10/2010, 5th/2011, T4/2016, T8/2018)
  • Leads the PGA TOUR in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (1.883 per round) and Scoring Average (68.685)

Justin Thomas (No. 1 FedExCup, No. 3 OWGR)

  • 2017 FedExCup champion and current FedExCup leader
  • Lost playoff to Collin Morikawa at last week’s Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village after holding the 54-hole lead
  • Has two top-10s (T4/2017, T8/2018) in six appearances at the Memorial Tournament
  • Seeks third victory of the season (THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, Sentry Tournament of Champions)

Bryson DeChambeau (No. 4 FedExCup, No. 7 OWGR)

  • Seven consecutive top-10s on TOUR, including win at 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic in most recent start
  • At the Rocket Mortgage Classic became first PGA TOUR winner to lead the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (6.672) and Strokes Gained: Putting (7.831) during the ShotLink era
  • Cumulative score of 69-under in four starts since Return to Golf
  • Won the Memorial Tournament at age 24 years, 8 months, 18 days in 2018; only Tiger Woods and Hideki Matsuyama won the event at a younger age
  • Making fourth appearance at the Memorial Tournament (T38/2016, Won/2018, T22/2019)

Patrick Cantlay (No. 28 FedExCup, No. 10 OWGR)

  • One win (2019) and a T4 (2018) in three starts at the event
  • Final-round 64 in 2019 marks low final-round score by a Memorial Tournament winner
  • 15 of 16 rounds at Muirfield Village (including Workday Charity Open) have been par-or-better scores
  • Win in 2019 marked his second PGA TOUR title; first came at 2017 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
  • Winner of the 2011 Jack Nicklaus Award; joined Tiger Woods as the only past Nicklaus Award winner to also win the Memorial Tournament

Collin Morikawa (No. 6 FedExCup, No. 13 OWGR)

  • Winner of last week’s Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village, defeating Justin Thomas in a playoff
  • Became the first player since Tiger Woods in 1996 to claim his second PGA TOUR victory before missing his second cut as a professional
  • Earned first victory at the 2019 Barracuda Championship
  • Making Memorial Tournament debut

Additional Player Notes

  • Following three rounds in the 70s, World No. 2 Jon Rahm closed with an 8-under 64 at last week’s Workday Charity Open, tying Kevin Streelman (R2) for the low round of the week
  • World No. 4 Dustin Johnson won in his most recent start (Travelers Championship); best result in 11 starts at the Memorial Tournament is solo-third in 2016
  • Webb Simpson is one of three players in the field seeking a third title this season (Brendon Todd, Justin Thomas); lone top-10 in seven appearances at the Memorial Tournament: T7/2011
  • Brooks Koepka birdied five of his closing seven holes at last week’s Workday Charity Open, but missed the cut by   a stroke

Tournament Notes

  • the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide is one of three elevated tournaments on the PGA TOUR, offering a three-year PGA TOUR exemption
  • The Memorial Tournament has been decided by two strokes or fewer in 13 of the last 15 years, including four playoffs in that span
  • There have been nine international winners in tournament history (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)
  • 20 holes-in-one have been recorded at the event since 1983; Bob Tway is the only player with more than one in that time (R1/1994/No. 8, R3/1994/No. 12)
  • There has never been a wire-to-wire winner at the Memorial Tournament
  • 2020 Memorial Tournament Honoree induction of Nick Price postponed until 2021
  • Champion will be crowned in a month other than May or June for the first time in tournament history
  • 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of Nationwide as presenting sponsor
  • Nationwide Challenge nine-hole skins match featuring Jon Rahm, Tony Finau, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell  at 2 p.m. Wednesday will benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Tournament Records

  • Low 18-hole score: John Huston (61/R2/1996)
  • Low 36-hole total: Jason Dufner (130/2017)
  • Low 54-hole total: Scott Hoch (198/1987)
  • Low 72-hole total: Tom Lehman (268/1994)
  • Largest margin of victory: Tiger Woods (7/2001)
  • Number of playoffs: 8 (most recent: 2018/Bryson DeChambeau def. Byeong Hun An, Kyle Stanley)

Muirfield Village Golf Club

  • 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, the 2013 Presidents Cup and the 2020 Workday Charity Open
  • Muirfield Village is the only venue to have hosted the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup and the Presidents Cup

The Memorial Tournament Preview 2020 is via PGA TOUR

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