MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT PREVIEW  

MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT PREVIEW  

Muirfield Village GC Dublin OH.

June 1 to 4, 2023  PAR 72

Purse $20M +$8M=40%

The Memorial is one of my favorite tournaments.  I lived in Westerville, OH from 1978 to 1983 and had the good fortune to attend the tournament every year.  The course is magnificent from a player and patron standpoint.  It is an invitational tournament with a field of 120 as opposed to the 156 in most tournaments.  Last year Billy Horschel won by 4 strokes.  

In 2020 Jon Rahm won by 3 strokes.  In 2021 he had a 6 stroke lead going into the final RD but tested positive for covid and had to withdraw.  Patrick Cantlay defeated Colin Morikawa in a playoff.  Roger Maltbie won the first event in 1976 and won $40,000, Jack finished 8th and won $5,650.  In 1977 Nicklaus won and received $45,000 which sent his career earnings over $3M.

This year, 46 years later, the winner will receive $3.6M (80 X $45,000).  

Jack Nicklaus came up with the idea of honoring the games greatest achievers by selecting one or more each year to be remembered with a plaque in Memorial Park.  This year it is Larry Nelson who won 10 PGA events including The PGA in 1981 & 1987, the US Open in 1983.  He had a 9-3-1 record in 3 Ryder Cups and was inducted into the World Golf Hall Fame in 2006.

OPENING ODDS

Scottie Scheffler 6/1 This may be his week.

Jon Rahm 7/1 Should have 2 previous wins and may want this one bad.

Patrick Cantlay 10/1 Plays well here could win again.

Xander Schauffele 14/1 Always a threat.

I think 1 of these 4 will win.  Patrick Cantlay may be the best bet.

LONGSHOTS

Rory McIlroy 12/1 I think his game is still too inconsistent to win, but with him you never know.

Vicktor Hovland 20/1 He has the game to win, just has to stop DBs and lapses in his game.

Jason Day 30/1 He resides in Westerville OH, and is a member of Muirfield Village. 

Rickie Fowler 35/1 His game is getting better.  Jack loves this guy, could be his time.

If winner does not come from top 4 it may be here. 

Memorial Park along the first fairway has plaques for 80 people.  Bobby Jones was the 1st in 1976 followed by Walter Hagen, Francis Ouimet, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Harry Vardon, and the list goes on too many famous names in golf since Harry Vardon.