DEFENDING CHAMPION: Inaugural event.

COURSE: Designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1974 and named after Muirfield in Scotland – where he claimed the first of his three Open Championships – Muirfield Village Golf Club has welcomed the PGA Tour since 1976 and has also hosted various Cup events.

The 6,759-metre, par-72 layout will have its pin positions, green speeds and rough altered between this week and next week’s Memorial Tournament. While the greens will be slower and the rough will be shorter for the Workday Charity Open, pin positions should prove trickier than those previously seen during the Memorial.

PRIZEMONEY: US$6,200,000.

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

Englishman Justin Rose won his first-ever PGA Tour title at Muirfield Village in 2010 and is second in all-time earnings here.

The soon-to-be 40-year-old has bagged seven top-10s at Jack’s Place – including his Memorial victory and two runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2008 respectively – and has previously described the layout as “a great second shot golf course.”

Despite recommencing his season with shares of third and 14th – prior to missing the cut at the Travelers Championship – Rose has been uncharacteristically sloppy with his ball-striking.

In fact, the World No.13 is currently ranked 204th on Tour for greens in regulation (62.50%) and 104th for driving distance (297.6 yards). Both of these areas will need to improve for him to add another top-10 at Muirfield Village to his collection.

RIGHT: Rose claimed his maiden PGA Tour victory at Muirfield Village back in 2010. PHOTO: Andy Lyons/Getty Images.

Former World No.1 Brooks Koepka will make his competitive return this week, having spent the past fortnight on the sidelines after his caddie, Ricky Elliott, tested positive for the coronavirus prior to the Travelers Championship.

The 30-year-old American enjoyed his first top-10 finish (7th) since last year’s Tour Championship prior to his two-week break – and he led the field in strokes gained off the tee at Harbour Town.

Koepka hasn’t played at Muirfield Village since 2017 – when he shared 31st place during the Memorial – but his world-class ball-striking should hold him in good stead here, as he looks to end an 11-month title drought.

72-HOLE RECORD: American Tom Lehman shot 20-under-par 268 to defeat Greg Norman by five shots at the Memorial Tournament in 1994.

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: N/A.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Aaron Baddeley, Cameron Davis, Jason Day, Matt Jones, Marc Leishman and Cameron Percy.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 5am – 8am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 5am – 8am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 8am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 8am)
*AEST, check local guides