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Memorial Tournament
Memorialtourney.PNG
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
United States Scottie Scheffler

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.

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 United States Scottie Scheffler 280 −8 1 stroke United States Collin Morikawa 4,000,000 Juli Inkster
Tom Weiskopf
2023 Norway Viktor Hovland 281 −7 Playoff United States Denny McCarthy 3,600,000 Larry Nelson
2022 United States Billy Horschel 275 −13 4 strokes United States Aaron Wise 2,160,000 Charlie Sifford
2021 United States Patrick Cantlay (2) 275 −13 Playoff United States Collin Morikawa 1,674,000 Nick Price
Gene Littler
Ted Ray
2020 Spain Jon Rahm 279 −9 3 strokes United States Ryan Palmer 1,674,000
2019 United States Patrick Cantlay 269 −19 2 strokes Australia Adam Scott 1,638,000 Judy Rankin
2018 United States Bryson DeChambeau 273 −15 Playoff South Korea An Byeong-hun
United States Kyle Stanley
1,602,000 Hale Irwin
Jock Hutchison
Willie Turnesa
2017 United States Jason Dufner 275 −13 3 strokes United States Rickie Fowler
India Anirban Lahiri
1,566,000 Greg Norman
Tony Lema
Ken Venturi
Harvie Ward
2016 United States William McGirt 273 −15 Playoff United States Jon Curran 1,530,000 Johnny Miller
Leo Diegel
Horton Smith
2015 Sweden David Lingmerth 273 −15 Playoff England Justin Rose 1,116,000 Nick Faldo
Dorothy Campbell
Jerome Travers
Walter Travis
2014 Japan Hideki Matsuyama 275 −13 Playoff United States Kevin Na 1,116,000 Annika Sörenstam
Jim Barnes
Joe Carr
Willie Park Sr.
2013 United States Matt Kuchar 276 −12 2 strokes United States Kevin Chappell 1,116,000 Raymond Floyd
2012 United States Tiger Woods (5) 279 −9 2 strokes Argentina Andrés Romero
South Africa Rory Sabbatini
1,116,000 Tom Watson
2011 United States Steve Stricker 272 −16 1 stroke United States Brandt Jobe
United States Matt Kuchar
1,116,000 Nancy Lopez
2010 England Justin Rose 270 −18 3 strokes United States Rickie Fowler 1,080,000 Seve Ballesteros
2009 United States Tiger Woods (4) 276 −12 1 stroke United States Jim Furyk 1,080,000 JoAnne Carner
Jack Burke Jr.
2008 United States Kenny Perry (3) 280 −8 2 strokes Australia Mathew Goggin
United States Jerry Kelly
England Justin Rose
Canada Mike Weir
1,080,000 Tony Jacklin
Ralph Guldahl
Charles B. Macdonald
Craig Wood
2007 South Korea K. J. Choi 271 −17 1 stroke United States Ryan Moore 1,080,000 Louise Suggs
Dow Finsterwald
2006 Sweden Carl Pettersson 276 −12 2 strokes United States Zach Johnson
United States Brett Wetterich
1,035,000 Michael Bonallack
Charles Coe
Lawson Little
Henry Picard
Paul Runyan
Denny Shute
2005 United States Bart Bryant 272 −16 1 stroke United States Fred Couples 990,000 Betsy Rawls
Cary Middlecoff
2004 South Africa Ernie Els 270 −18 4 strokes United States Fred Couples 945,000 Lee Trevino
Joyce Wethered
2003 United States Kenny Perry (2) 275 −13 2 strokes United States Lee Janzen 900,000 Julius Boros
William C. Campbell
2002 United States Jim Furyk 274 −14 2 strokes United States John Cook
United States David Peoples
810,000 Kathy Whitworth
Bobby Locke
2001 United States Tiger Woods (3) 271 −17 7 strokes United States Paul Azinger
Spain Sergio García
738,000 Payne Stewart
2000 United States Tiger Woods (2) 269 −19 5 strokes South Africa Ernie Els
United States Justin Leonard
558,000 Jack Nicklaus
1999 United States Tiger Woods 273 −15 2 strokes Fiji Vijay Singh 459,000 Ben Hogan
1998 United States Fred Couples 271 −17 4 strokes United States Andrew Magee 396,000 Peter Thomson
1997 Fiji Vijay Singh 202 −14 2 strokes United States Jim Furyk
Australia Greg Norman
342,000 Gary Player
1996 United States Tom Watson (2) 274 −14 2 strokes United States David Duval 324,000 Billy Casper
1995 Australia Greg Norman (2) 269 −19 4 strokes United States Mark Calcavecchia
United States David Duval
United States Steve Elkington
306,000 Willie Anderson
John Ball
James Braid
Harold Hilton
John Henry Taylor
1994 United States Tom Lehman 268 −20 5 strokes Australia Greg Norman 270,000 Mickey Wright
1993 United States Paul Azinger 274 −14 1 stroke United States Corey Pavin 252,000 Arnold Palmer
1992 United States David Edwards 273 −15 Playoff United States Rick Fehr 234,000 Joseph Dey
1991 United States Kenny Perry 273 −15 Playoff United States Hale Irwin 216,000 Babe Zaharias
1990 Australia Greg Norman 216 E 1 stroke United States Payne Stewart 180,000 Jimmy Demaret
1989 United States Bob Tway 277 −11 2 strokes United States Fuzzy Zoeller 160,000 Henry Cotton
1988 United States Curtis Strange 274 −14 2 strokes South Africa David Frost
United States Hale Irwin
160,000 Patty Berg
1987 United States Don Pooley 272 −16 3 strokes United States Curt Byrum 140,000 Old Tom Morris
Young Tom Morris
1986 United States Hal Sutton 271 −17 4 strokes United States Don Pooley 100,000 Roberto De Vicenzo
1985 United States Hale Irwin (2) 281 −7 1 stroke United States Lanny Wadkins 100,000 Chick Evans
1984 United States Jack Nicklaus (2) 280 −8 Playoff United States Andy Bean 90,000 Sam Snead
1983 United States Hale Irwin 281 −7 1 stroke United States Ben Crenshaw
Australia David Graham
72,000 Tommy Armour
1982 United States Raymond Floyd 281 −7 2 strokes United States Peter Jacobsen
United States Wayne Levi
United States Roger Maltbie
United States Gil Morgan
63,000 Glenna Collett-Vare
1981 United States Keith Fergus 284 −4 1 stroke United States Jack Renner 63,000 Harry Vardon
1980 Australia David Graham 280 −8 1 stroke United States Tom Watson 54,000 Byron Nelson
1979 United States Tom Watson 285 −3 3 strokes United States Miller Barber 54,000 Gene Sarazen
1978 United States Jim Simons 284 −4 1 stroke United States Billy Kratzert 50,000 Francis Ouimet
1977 United States Jack Nicklaus 281 −7 2 strokes United States Hubert Green 45,000 Walter Hagen
1976 United States Roger Maltbie 288 E Playoff United States Hale Irwin 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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Memorial Tournament para niños

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