Officials of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance announced today that two-time major champions Rory McIlroy and Angel Cabrera and 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott have entered the 38th Memorial Tournament May 27-June 2 at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Three of the game’s brightest international stars, McIlroy, Cabrera and Scott join an already impressive list of early entries that includes 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson and seven-time TOUR winner Dustin Johnson.
“Anyone who watched the Masters last month saw wonderful golf down the stretch by both Adam and Angel, and it was really a shame that one of them had to lose,” said Tournament founder and host Jack Nicklaus. “The whole golfing world felt badly for Adam Scott after last year’s British Open; however, Adam looked at the positive side of the experience and used it as a learning experience and source of motivation for future majors. The way Adam finished the Masters, coming down the stretch, was terrific. He had a focus and body language that said, ‘I am going to get it done this time.’ Every shot he hit was fantastic and he finished impressively, as did Angel with that gutsy shot on the 72nd hole just to get into the playoff. We look forward to having these two fine gentlemen in the field. And who knows, perhaps we will see them again later this year at Muirfield Village Golf Club as teammates in The Presidents Cup.
“Rory is someone I have followed for many years and I think very highly of him as a golfer and a person. He is just about to turn 24 (on May 4) and yet he already has two major championship titles on his résumé. Rory was No. 1 in the world for 33 straight weeks until our defending Memorial winner Tiger Woods passed him in March, and he is coming off a season that earned him the honor of PGA TOUR Player of the Year. Rory has a world of talent, and we are very pleased that he will be competing again at Muirfield Village.”
McIlroy, who will be celebrating his 24th birthday this week, has enjoyed tremendous success since bursting onto the U.S. scene in 2010. The Northern Ireland native is coming off a career year in which he recorded 10 top-10 finishes over 16 starts in 2012, including four victories and his second major at the PGA Championship. His first major championship came in 2011 at the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. McIlroy’s 2012 campaign also included a showering of awards, chief among them, PGA TOUR Player of the Year, which is known as the Jack Nicklaus Award, and PGA Player of the Year, the Byron Nelson Award and Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average, and the Arnold Palmer Award as the leading money winner with $8,047,952. A resident of Jupiter, Fla., McIlroy has competed in six TOUR events in 2013 and recorded two top-10 finishes. He is ranked No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking behind five-time Memorial winner Tiger Woods, and No. 33 in FedExCup points to go with $14,311,103 in career earnings as he searches for his seventh career PGA TOUR victory. McIlroy has two top-10 finishes at the Memorial Tournament in his three previous appearances. His best finish was a fifth place outing in 2011. Last year he missed the cut at Muirfield Village Golf Club after opening rounds of 71 and 79.
Cabrera has enjoyed great success on the biggest stages in golf since turning professional in 1989. With a resume that boasts 39 career international victories, his first PGA TOUR win came in grand fashion at the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. Two years later, Cabrera prevailed at Augusta National Golf Club in a two-hole playoff to become the first Argentinian to claim victory at The Masters Tournament. This past April, the 43-year-old, who was born and still lives in Cordoba, Argentina, nearly became the second-oldest player to win the coveted green jacket behind Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he triumphed at Augusta in 1986. Instead, Cabrera finished second after losing to Adam Scott on the second hole of a thrilling playoff to claim his sole top-10 finish on TOUR this season. Cabrera, who is currently ranked No. 57 in the world and No. 32 in FedExCup points, hopes to add to his career earnings of $11,089,077. He has missed the cut two out of three years he has competed at the Memorial Tournament, including last year when he shot 75 and 74. He made his only cut in 2011, finishing in a tie for 22nd place.
Scott has been a model of consistency throughout his professional career, recording at least one PGA TOUR victory in all but three years (2005, 2009 and 2012) since joining the TOUR in 2003. Along the way he has collected nine TOUR wins in all and career earnings totaling $30,406,922. Through five events this year he has recorded three top-10 finishes, including his first-career major championship at The Masters Tournament. His dramatic playoff win at Augusta National vaulted the 32-year-old Australian native, now living in Switzerland, to No. 3 in the world and No. 5 in FedExCup points. Scott will be making his ninth start at the Memorial Tournament. He has recorded two top-10 finishes at Muirfield Village Golf Club with his best outing coming in 2006 when he finished in tie for fourth place. Last year, in his bid to win the prestigious invitational hosted by the Golden Bear, he finished in a tie for 46th place.
“Badges for the Memorial Tournament, including a special offer to purchase tickets to The President’s Cup 2013, are available through May 26,” said Executive Director Dan Sullivan. “We are excited to provide a once-in–a-lifetime opportunity for golf fans and central Ohio sports enthusiasts to attend the Memorial, one of the most prominent attractions in Ohio, and witness the best in international golf competition right in our backyard this October for The Presidents Cup.”
All-week Patron Badges to the 2013 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance are available to the general public. The badges, valid May 27 – June 2, cost $155 and include three complimentary any-day Practice Round tickets at no extra cost. As always, kids 12 and under can attend for free, and kids 18 and under are admitted free on Wednesday for Junior Golf Day. The public may call the Tournament Ticket Office 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 877-MT BADGE to purchase badges. Daily tickets for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday practice rounds are also available. The cost is $30, and they are valid for all three practice-round days. Additionally, 2013 Memorial Tournament patrons can purchase tickets to The Presidents Cup 2013 at a special rate of $185 for Grounds tickets or $310 for Captains’ Club tickets (per ticket price). Offer valid through May 26, 2013.
