Memorial Tournament facts for kids
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Location | Dublin, Ohio |
Established | 1976 |
Course(s) | Muirfield Village Golf Club |
Par | 72 |
Length | 7,392 yards (6,759 m) |
Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
Format | Stroke play |
Prize fund | US$20,000,000 |
Month played | June |
Tournament record score | |
Aggregate | 268 Tom Lehman (1994) |
To par | −20 as above |
Current champion | |
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The Memorial Tournament is a famous PGA Tour golf competition. It was started in 1976 by the legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus. The tournament takes place at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. This golf course was also designed by Jack Nicklaus himself. It's a special event that brings together some of the best golfers in the world.
Contents
History of the Memorial Tournament
Jack Nicklaus grew up in the area around Columbus, Ohio. He opened the Muirfield Village golf course in May 1974. Just two years later, in 1976, it hosted the very first Memorial Tournament. The course was 7,072 yards long, which was quite long for golf courses back then.
Nicklaus had a dream to create a golf tournament like the Masters. He wanted it to be known all over the world. He also wanted it to honor the history of golf. A big part of the tournament is giving back to the community. It helps charities that support children and adults in Ohio. The main charity it helps is Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Each year, the tournament honors famous golfers from the past. A special plaque for each honored golfer is placed near the clubhouse. Jack Nicklaus himself was honored in the year 2000.
What Makes the Memorial Tournament Special?
The Memorial Tournament is one of only five "invitational" tournaments on the PGA Tour. This means it's a very exclusive event. Most regular tournaments have 156 players. But the Memorial Tournament has a much smaller group, with only 73 players in 2024.
The other four special tournaments are the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the RBC Heritage, the Charles Schwab Challenge, and the Genesis Invitational. Invitational tournaments have fewer players, usually between 69 and 132. They also have more freedom to choose which players can join. They don't have to follow the usual PGA Tour rules for picking players. Also, you can't just try to qualify for these events on a Monday before the tournament.
In 2014, the PGA Tour made the Memorial Tournament even more special. The winner now gets to play in the Tour for three extra years. This is one more year than most other regular tournaments. It's the same reward as winning a World Golf Championships event.
Who Gets to Play?
The Memorial Tournament invites about 120 players. They are chosen based on different achievements. For example, past winners of the Memorial Tournament are invited. Winners of major championships and other big tournaments also get a spot. Top players from the Official World Golf Ranking and the FedEx Cup points list are also invited. There are also special invitations given out by the tournament sponsors. This ensures that only the best and most deserving golfers get to compete.
Exciting Tournament Moments
The Memorial Tournament has seen many memorable moments over the years. Here are some highlights:
- 1976: Roger Maltbie won the very first Memorial Tournament. He beat Hale Irwin in a four-hole playoff. On one hole, his shot hit a post and bounced onto the green, helping him stay in the game!
- 1977: The tournament finished on a Monday because of bad weather. The host, Jack Nicklaus, won by two shots.
- 1984: Jack Nicklaus won the Memorial for the second time. He beat Andy Bean in a sudden-death playoff.
- 1993: Paul Azinger won by hitting a fantastic shot from a bunker on the final hole.
- 1994: Tom Lehman set a tournament record with a score of 268 (20 strokes under par). He won by five shots.
- 2000: Tiger Woods became the first golfer to win the Memorial two years in a row.
- 2001: Woods won again, making it three wins in a row! He finished seven shots ahead of his rivals.
- 2012: Woods made an amazing comeback. He birdied three of the last four holes, including a chip-in on the 16th. This win was his 73rd PGA Tour victory, tying Jack Nicklaus's record.
- 2014: Hideki Matsuyama won in a playoff. He was the first Japanese player to win on the PGA Tour since 2008.
- 2020: Jon Rahm won the tournament. This victory helped him become the world's number one golfer for the first time.
- 2021: The defending champion, Jon Rahm, had a big lead. But he had to leave the tournament because he tested positive for COVID-19.
- 2024: Scottie Scheffler won the Memorial. He became the first golfer since 1980 to have five PGA Tour wins before the U.S. Open in a single season.
Muirfield Village Golf Club Layout
The Muirfield Village Golf Club is a challenging course. Here's a look at its layout:
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:
Past Winners and Honored Golfers
The table below shows the winners of the Memorial Tournament each year. It also lists the golfers who were honored that year for their contributions to the sport.
Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Winner's share ($) |
Honoree(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | ![]() |
280 | −8 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
4,000,000 | Juli Inkster Tom Weiskopf |
2023 | ![]() |
281 | −7 | Playoff | ![]() |
3,600,000 | Larry Nelson |
2022 | ![]() |
275 | −13 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
2,160,000 | Charlie Sifford |
2021 | ![]() |
275 | −13 | Playoff | ![]() |
1,674,000 | Nick Price Gene Littler Ted Ray |
2020 | ![]() |
279 | −9 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
1,674,000 | |
2019 | ![]() |
269 | −19 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
1,638,000 | Judy Rankin |
2018 | ![]() |
273 | −15 | Playoff | ![]() ![]() |
1,602,000 | Hale Irwin Jock Hutchison Willie Turnesa |
2017 | ![]() |
275 | −13 | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
1,566,000 | Greg Norman Tony Lema Ken Venturi Harvie Ward |
2016 | ![]() |
273 | −15 | Playoff | ![]() |
1,530,000 | Johnny Miller Leo Diegel Horton Smith |
2015 | ![]() |
273 | −15 | Playoff | ![]() |
1,116,000 | Nick Faldo Dorothy Campbell Jerome Travers Walter Travis |
2014 | ![]() |
275 | −13 | Playoff | ![]() |
1,116,000 | Annika Sörenstam Jim Barnes Joe Carr Willie Park Sr. |
2013 | ![]() |
276 | −12 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
1,116,000 | Raymond Floyd |
2012 | ![]() |
279 | −9 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
1,116,000 | Tom Watson |
2011 | ![]() |
272 | −16 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
1,116,000 | Nancy Lopez |
2010 | ![]() |
270 | −18 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
1,080,000 | Seve Ballesteros |
2009 | ![]() |
276 | −12 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
1,080,000 | JoAnne Carner Jack Burke Jr. |
2008 | ![]() |
280 | −8 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
1,080,000 | Tony Jacklin Ralph Guldahl Charles B. Macdonald Craig Wood |
2007 | ![]() |
271 | −17 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
1,080,000 | Louise Suggs Dow Finsterwald |
2006 | ![]() |
276 | −12 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
1,035,000 | Michael Bonallack Charles Coe Lawson Little Henry Picard Paul Runyan Denny Shute |
2005 | ![]() |
272 | −16 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
990,000 | Betsy Rawls Cary Middlecoff |
2004 | ![]() |
270 | −18 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
945,000 | Lee Trevino Joyce Wethered |
2003 | ![]() |
275 | −13 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
900,000 | Julius Boros William C. Campbell |
2002 | ![]() |
274 | −14 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
810,000 | Kathy Whitworth Bobby Locke |
2001 | ![]() |
271 | −17 | 7 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
738,000 | Payne Stewart |
2000 | ![]() |
269 | −19 | 5 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
558,000 | Jack Nicklaus |
1999 | ![]() |
273 | −15 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
459,000 | Ben Hogan |
1998 | ![]() |
271 | −17 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
396,000 | Peter Thomson |
1997 | ![]() |
202 | −14 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
342,000 | Gary Player |
1996 | ![]() |
274 | −14 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
324,000 | Billy Casper |
1995 | ![]() |
269 | −19 | 4 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
306,000 | Willie Anderson John Ball James Braid Harold Hilton John Henry Taylor |
1994 | ![]() |
268 | −20 | 5 strokes | ![]() |
270,000 | Mickey Wright |
1993 | ![]() |
274 | −14 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
252,000 | Arnold Palmer |
1992 | ![]() |
273 | −15 | Playoff | ![]() |
234,000 | Joseph Dey |
1991 | ![]() |
273 | −15 | Playoff | ![]() |
216,000 | Babe Zaharias |
1990 | ![]() |
216 | E | 1 stroke | ![]() |
180,000 | Jimmy Demaret |
1989 | ![]() |
277 | −11 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
160,000 | Henry Cotton |
1988 | ![]() |
274 | −14 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() |
160,000 | Patty Berg |
1987 | ![]() |
272 | −16 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
140,000 | Old Tom Morris Young Tom Morris |
1986 | ![]() |
271 | −17 | 4 strokes | ![]() |
100,000 | Roberto De Vicenzo |
1985 | ![]() |
281 | −7 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
100,000 | Chick Evans |
1984 | ![]() |
280 | −8 | Playoff | ![]() |
90,000 | Sam Snead |
1983 | ![]() |
281 | −7 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() |
72,000 | Tommy Armour |
1982 | ![]() |
281 | −7 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
63,000 | Glenna Collett-Vare |
1981 | ![]() |
284 | −4 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
63,000 | Harry Vardon |
1980 | ![]() |
280 | −8 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
54,000 | Byron Nelson |
1979 | ![]() |
285 | −3 | 3 strokes | ![]() |
54,000 | Gene Sarazen |
1978 | ![]() |
284 | −4 | 1 stroke | ![]() |
50,000 | Francis Ouimet |
1977 | ![]() |
281 | −7 | 2 strokes | ![]() |
45,000 | Walter Hagen |
1976 | ![]() |
288 | E | Playoff | ![]() |
40,000 | Bobby Jones |
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Source:
Golfers with Multiple Wins
Seven golfers have won the Memorial Tournament more than once up to 2024:
- 5 wins: Tiger Woods (1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2012)
- 3 wins: Kenny Perry (1991, 2003, 2008)
- 2 wins: Jack Nicklaus (1977, 1984), Hale Irwin (1983, 1985), Greg Norman (1990, 1995), Tom Watson: (1979, 1996), Patrick Cantlay (2019, 2021)
Images for kids
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Muirfield Village Golf Club.jpg
A view of the Muirfield Village Golf Club
See also
In Spanish: Memorial Tournament para niños