The Memorial Tournament - preview

The Memorial Tournament

Muirfield Village Golf Club, Ohio

Thursday June 2nd - Sunday June 5th
by Michael Barwise

photo: fansided.com

This week, the PGA Tour takes us to the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio, otherwise known as 'Jack's place'. Designed by arguably the greatest player to ever have grace the game, Jack Nicklaus' course has played host to some of the biggest events in golf. The 1987 Ryder Cup, 1998 Solhiem Cup, and 2013 Presidents Cup were all played here, and it is the only course to have hosted the Ryder, Solhiem and Presidents Cups. But Muirfield Village's main purpose is to play host to the Memorial Tournament every year, and 2016 will see it entertain one of its' strongest ever fields.


The top five players in the world ranking will be in Ohio: Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, and Rickie Fowler, and overall, 29 of the world’s Top 50 will be on the links at Murfield Village. And to make the contest just that little bit more mouthwatering, the big three of Day, Spieth and McIlroy are all entering the tournament on the back of wins. Day claimed a huge victory at THE PLAYERS two weeks ago, Rory won at the Irish Open , and Spieth secured his first victory in months, winning the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational in Dallas last weekend.


So who looking the strongest to come out on top then?


Well aside from the big three, Hideki Matsuyama may well be the man to keep your eye on this weekend. He won the Memorial in 2014 and finished fifth last year, so he definitely knows how to play the course. He's in good form too, recording a seventh-place finish at the Players last time out, and also finishing 11th at the Wells Fargo Championship prior to that.

Another former winner at the Memorial making the field this year is Matt Kuchar. The American claimed victory at Muirfield Village back in 2013, and has seven top 15 finishes here since 2007. Kuchar is also in excellent form, finishing in the top six in his last three tournaments.


Whatever the outcome though, with that line up on such an iconic course, it's sure to be one heck of a weekend.