The Memorial Tournament
Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio, just outside of Akron, 1974 design by Jack Nicklaus, 7,392 yards, par 72
Defending champion: David Lingmerth. Defeated Justin Rose, the 2010 champion, in a three hole playoff. Rose will not be in this year's field as he's having back problems.
Top 5 in the FedEx Cup Standings:
1. Jason Day, 2,040 points. Three wins: the Arnie, WGC Match Play, The Players Championship. 6 Top 10's.
2. Adam Scott, 179 points behind. 2 wins, The Honda Classic and the WGC Cadillac Championship at Doral. 4 Top 10's.
3. Jordan Spieth, 337 points behind. Two wins: Hyundai Tournament of Champions and the Dean and Deluca Invitational at Colonial last week. 5 Top 10's.
4. Brandt Snedeker, 688 points behind, 1 win, the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. 5 top 10's.
5. Russell Knox, 690 points behind, 1 win WGC HSBC Champions, 3 top 10's.
TV: Thursday-Friday: Golf Channel: 3:30-6:30 PM ET/2:30-5:30 PM CT
Saturday: Golf: 12:30-2:30 PM ET/11:30 AM-1:30 PM CT; CBS: 3-6 PM ET/2-5 PM CT
Sunday: Golf: 12-2 PM ET/11 AM-1 PM CT; CBS: 2:30-6 PM ET/1:30-5 PM CT.
Weather:
Thursday: High 82. Couple of t-storms, 40%, wind NW 6-9 MPH; Friday: Perfect; high 80, mostly sunny, wind NNW 5-9 MPH; Saturday: Slight chance of t-storms in the afternoon, but good day overall. High 78, wind S 6-9 MPH; Sunday: 40% chance of t-storm, high 73, perfect temperature, wind a little stronger at 9-14 MPH WNW. Should be interesting with more of a wind predicament on Sunday.
Key tee times Thursday:
8:15 AM ET/7:15 AM CT: Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed. Very interesting group here. Bubba has never fared that well here, but always capable. Rickie a threat every time out, but has never torn this one. Patrick Reed playing well right now. He's capable.
8:26 AM ET/ 7:26 AM CT: Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy
All three have a shot. Justin playing with two superstars here, but he can certainly compete with both of these guys. Rory coming off a victory two weeks ago at the Irish Open, which is his home turf, so I don't put an extreme amount of relevance to that, though it was a win. Jordan just coming off a win in Fort Worth at Colonial and I put a lot of relevance in that. Justin won in late October-early November at the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with an excellent field, so he's a factor.
1:05 PM ET/12:05 PM CT: Hideki Matsuyama, Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickelson
Hideki won here two years ago (2014), and Kuchar won here three years ago (2013). Phil has never really excelled here; His best finish was a T-4 in 2006.
1:16 PM ET/12:16 PM CT: Jason Day, David Lingmerth, Jim Furyk
World No.1 is in contention to win every time he tees it up. He hasn't torn it up here though. He missed the cut here last year. Lingmerth is the defending champion. Furyk won here in 2002.
Key Holes
No.2, 455 yards, Par 4
The second hardest hole on the course. A creek flanks the entire right side of the hole from 100 yards out, and nestles against the right edge and backside of the green. Trees are in the way of a drive that's overcooked to the left. The green has bunkers on the front right and the back left. The player must hit his drive towards the water with a cut. Challenging par 4 where par is a good score.
No.7 563 yards, par 5
An elevated tee, this is a hole that is covered with bunkers, signatures for Jack Nicklaus' courses. It's a double dogleg hole and is reachable only for the likes of Bubba, Dustin, Rory and a couple of others. There's a swale with rough in front of the green. Bunkers guard the front left and right and the back right of the putting surface. The green breaks severely off to the left towards a wooded ravine. This is not an easy hole to birdie, but the farther left the conservative player is on his second shot, the easier the third shot becomes. Of course, with some of these bombers, the hole is reachable in two, though it's a tricky go-for.
No.10, 471 yards, par 4
Sand guards both sides of the driving zone, and a massive bunker with many extensions threatens the under hit approach. This is a rugged par 4 that demands both length and precision, and is one of the toughest par 4's on the inward 9, especially this Sunday into the wind.
No.16, 201 yards, par 3
This hole was redesigned in 2010, and the redesign has added even more drama to Sundays. There is a pond guarding the length of the green on the left, so with the pressure building, even a slight draw could have a player swimming. A front hole location, which the players could face on Sunday, is tough because it'll sit between the water on the left and two bunkers guarding the right side of the green.
No.17, 479 yards, par 4
The fourth hardest hole on the course will be a pressure cooker on Sunday. Twenty yards of fairway separate two bunkers midway up the fairway. This leaves a mid to short iron to the green if you're accurate. A lay up off the tee in front of the bunkers leaves a long iron approach to the green. The green itself is slightly elevated and on the edge of a bank above a creek with bunkers along the right and back left. An approach to the left side of the green leaves an easier putt. This will be a demanding 71st hole.
No. 18, 484 yards, par 4
Jack will be waiting on Sunday to greet the contenders and the winner on this hole, which is the toughest hole on the course. A classic hole, the drive is a downhill shot to an open fairway. Bunkers do threaten the right corner on this dogleg left. A long drive that is hit too far left can find the creek that is on the edge of the left side of the fairway. Also, if the competitor is too far left but not in the creek, his second shot can be blocked by some walnut trees. The approach is uphill across a swale to a large two-tiered, sloping green that is guarded by bunkers on the front left, the front right, the left and the back right. If you birdie this hole and win the championship, you have certainly earned it.
Contenders
Justin Thomas
I like the 23 year old from Louisville, Kentucky via the University of Alabama to play well. He's playing the first two days with Spieth and Rory, but he won't be intimidated. Excellent player whose future is unlimited if he can keep progressing and start winning some of these big events.
Jordan Spieth
Can't leave the 22 year old from Dallas off this list. Tempted to pick him to go back to back weeks, and he'll be right there. Finished third here last year and his game is back, particularly that stellar putter. Like Jordan to be in the hunt this weekend and definitely be a favorite to capture the U.S. in two weeks at Oakmont CC.
Tony Finau
Really like this 26 year old from Salt Lake City. It probably wasn't talked about last year much in the PGA Championship, but he put on a putting clinic at Whistling Straits last year on Saturday and part of Sunday. He's massively long and ready to take the next step. Could very well get his first title here at Muirfield.
Hideki Matsuyama
The 24 year old from Japan won here two years ago and finished tied fifth here last year. One of the best ball strikers in the game, if the putter is clicking, he can hoist the trophy on Sunday and get a warm handshake from Jack.
Winner
Like this 25 year old from San Antonio, Texas to get the job done this week. A really outstanding player, and one of the best competitors on tour. A threat to join Day, Spieth, Rory and Rickie as an elite player. Needs a win here though. Has all the tools. See him getting it done this weekend.
Patrick Reed