It’s the tournament that Jack built played at the course that Jack built and remains one of the most prestigious events on the Tour that Jack helped create.
The Memorial has been a staple on the PGA Tour since 1976, an homage to the game’s most prolific major winner and an event that boasts a champion’s list the envy of any event.
One of only five Invitational tournaments on the schedule (last week’s Charles Schwab is one of the four others), it is a limited yet international field that heads to Ohio each Memorial Day weekend. Although this year the event falls the week after Memorial Day.
From the tournament’s debut nearly 50 years ago Nicklaus has made a point of inviting some of the world’s best players who don’t ply their trade on the PGA Tour as well as some of the game’s top amateurs.
It’s a mark of respect from the ‘Golden Bear’ and acknowledges that while the game might be U.S. centric, good players can be found in all corners of the globe.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: It would be both staggering and disappointing if the 2022 Memorial were even half as dramatic as the 2021 version.
RIGHT: Patrick Cantlay won at Jack's Place for a second time in 2021 after Jon Rahm was forced to withdraw. PHOTO: Andy Lyons/Getty Images.
This time last year the golf world went into meltdown when then World No.1 Jon Rahm was forced to withdraw after 54 holes thanks to a positive Covid test.
The Spaniard was six shots ahead with one round to play and was given the news moments after holing out on the 18th green to sign for a Saturday 64.
Patrick Cantlay ultimately went on to win his second Memorial in a play-off over Collin Morikawa.
COURSE: The Muirfield Village course was nearly 10 years in the making and filled a long-held dream of Nicklaus to own and build his own golf course.
He began buying land in the area in 1967 and the course was eventually finished in 1974, two years before the first Memorial tournament was played.
It has been a work in progress since with Nicklaus making tweaks – both minor and major – almost every year to ensure the course remains relevant for Tour level golf.
It took 10 years before a player shot double digits under par (Hal Sutton, -17 in 1986) but in the 36 years since it has been a single figure winning score just four times.
Nicklaus’ constant tinkering in an effort to keep the layout challenging for the world’s best has come at a price.
Architecture critics mark the course down because of the obvious and heavy influence of man-made features as well as the severity of many of the hazards.
While the course is ideal for hosting the PGA Tour, few recreational golfers would find it much fun to play on a regular basis.
PRIZEMONEY: US$12,000,000
PLAYERS TO WATCH: It’s no surprise to see one of the stronger fields of the year given the stature of the tournament host and the purse on offer.
Seven of the top-10 and 32 of the world’s top-50 are in Ohio this week including defending champion and two-time winner Patrick Cantlay and last year’s should-have-been champion Jon Rahm.
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Both have shown a liking for the Muirfield Village layout and boast excellent records here and given both have Tour victories in the last six weeks it would be no surprise if they contended again.
Last year’s runner-up Collin Morikawa has been at less than his best since the Masters with no top 10-finishes since April and another lacklustre performance last week.
However, a player of his quality is only ever one swing from turning things around and returning to the site of a good performance can often be a trigger.
Of the remaining world top-10 players none has a particularly strong record at The Memorial and while Rory McIlroy will likely start favourite, he has just four top-10 finishes in 10 starts here with a best of T4.
The winner is likely to come from further afield and recent PGA Championship contender Matt Fitzpatrick will be among the players to keep an eye on.
He is making just his fourth start at Muirfield Village and while he missed the cut last year was third in 2020 and is playing consistently good golf this year.
The Englishman is too good a player not to win on the PGA Tour and there is no reason this can’t be his week.
His final round at Southern Hills was less than impressive but he will have learnt a lot from being at the pointy end of a big event and with legendary caddie Billy Foster on the bag will be much better for the experience next time around.
*Interesting sidenote: Curtis Luck has received an invitation to play this week. It is Luck’s second start at Muirfield Village after he was also invited in 2017.
Luck made the cut that year and finished T73 at 11-over for the 72 holes.
72-HOLE RECORD: 268 (-20, Tom Lehman, 1994)
18-HOLE RECORD: 61 (John Huston, 1996)
PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: David Graham (1980), Greg Norman (1990, 1995)
AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Jason Day, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Cam Davis, Lucas Herbert, Matt Jones, Min Woo Lee, Curtis Luck and Jed Morgan.
TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 503 4am – 8am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 4am – 8am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 2.30am – 8am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 503 2.30am – 8am)
*AEST, check local guides
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