2016 the Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide pre-tournament notes - Nicklaus Companies

2016 the Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide pre-tournament notes

Dates: May 30-June 5, 2016
Where: Dublin, Ohio
Course: Muirfield Village Golf Club 36-36—par 72/7,366 yards
Field size: 120
2015 champion: David Lingmerth
Purse: $8,500,000 ($1,530,000/winner)
FedExCup: 500 points to the winner
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Twitter: @MemorialGolf
2016 the Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide
The Tournament, founded and hosted by golf’s greatest champion, Jack Nicklaus, is conducted each year with three goals in mind: to honor the memory of individuals living and deceased who have distinguished themselves in the game of golf; to showcase the world’s best golfers competing on one of the most challenging venues in the world for the enjoyment of spectators; and to benefit many Greater Columbus Charities in alliance with the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and numerous other local organizations.
How David Lingmerth won the Memorial Tournament in 2015
Sweden’s David Lingmerth overcame a three-stroke deficit beginning the final round, before a 3-under 69 proved strong enough to force sudden death with 2010 champion Justin Rose. Lingmerth made a 10’ 6” par save at the 72nd hole to force extra holes, then sank a putt for par from 6’ on the third extra hole (No. 10) to claim his first career PGA TOUR title in his 68th start at the age of 27 years, 10 months and 16 days.
Final 2015 Leaderboard
David Lingmerth     67-65-72-69—273 (-15)*
Justin Rose            68-67-66-72—273 (-15)
Francesco Molinari 68-67-69-71—275 (-13)
Jordan Spieth         68-70-72-65—275 (-13)
*Lingmerth defeated Justin Rose on the third extra hole (No. 10) with a par-4.
More on David Lingmerth

  • In the 39-year history of the Memorial Tournament, Lingmerth was the second Swede, and the ninth international player to win the event (Hideki Matsuyama/Japan/2014, Justin Rose/England/2010, K.J. Choi/South Korea/2007, Carl Pettersson/Sweden/2006, Ernie Els/South Africa/2004, Vijay Singh/Fiji/1997, Greg Norman/Australia/1995/1990, David Graham/Australia/1980).
  • With last year’s win at Muirfield Village, Lingmerth became the ninth player from Sweden to win on the PGA TOUR, joining Jesper Parnevik (5), Carl Pettersson (5), Henrik Stenson (4), Gabriel Hjertstedt (2), Daniel Chopra (2), Jonas Blixt (2), Freddie Jacobson (1) and Richard S. Johnson (1).
  • With the win, Lingmerth claimed the sixth top-10 finish of his career. His closest brush with victory before his win came in the form of a playoff loss to Brian Gay at the 2013 CareerBuilder Challenge and T2 honors at the 2013 PLAYERS Championship. This year, Lingmerth suffered another playoff loss at the CareerBuilder Challenge, this time falling to Jason Dufner.
  • Lingmerth was the sixth player to make the Memorial Tournament his first PGA TOUR victory, joining Keith Fergus (1981), Kenny Perry (1991), Tom Lehman (1994), Justin Rose (2010) and Hideki Matsuyama (2014).
  • Lingmerth has improved in each of his three appearances at the Memorial Tournament. In 2013 he finished T57 before posting a T49 in 2014.
  • Lingmerth, a 2012 and 2014 graduate of the Web.com Tour, won the 2012 Neediest Kids Championship in Maryland.

Reigning FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth

  • Birdied the final three holes last week in the final round to win the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational, his eighth career PGA TOUR. His eight victories rank second all-time for players under the age of 23: Horton Smith (14), Jordan Spieth (8), Tiger Woods (7).
  • Returns to the Memorial Tournament for a fourth appearance after a T3 finish last year. His results have improved each year ((T19-2014, T63-2013).
  • One of three multiple winners on the PGA TOUR in 2015-16, joined by Jason Day (3) and Adam Scott (2).
  • Youngest winner of the FedExCup and of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola (22 years, 2 months).
  • Owns seven PGA TOUR wins: 2013 John Deere Classic, 2015 Valspar Championship, 2015 Masters Tournament, 2015 U.S. Open, 2015 John Deere Classic, 2015 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, 2016 Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
  • Most wins on TOUR by a player 22 and younger: Horton Smith (14), Tiger Woods (7), Jordan Spieth (7).
  • With his win at the 2013 John Deere Classic, became youngest PGA TOUR winner since 1931, winning less than two weeks before his 20th birthday.
  • In 2013, earned a Captain’s Pick from Fred Couples for the U.S. Team for the Presidents Cup played at Muirfield Village where he went 2-2-0. Was also voted Rookie of the Year in 2013.
  • Awarded the Jack Nicklaus Trophy as Player of the Year for the 2015-16 PGA TOUR Season.

FedExCup and the Memorial Tournament
The 2015-16 season marks the 10th year of the FedExCup, the season-long points competition highlighted by four FedExCup Playoff events, with the FedExCup champion being crowned at the completion of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. Some FedExCup notes regarding the Memorial Tournament:

  • Three FedExCup champions are in the field: Jordan Spieth (2015), Bill Haas (2011), Jim Furyk (2010).
  • Eight of the nine winners of the Memorial Tournament since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007 have qualified for the season-ending TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. David Lingmerth qualified for the first three FedExCup Playoff events last year but was unable to advance to the TOUR Championship.
  • Eight of the top 10 and 22 of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings are in the field, highlighted by Jason Day who is No. 1 in the standings.

Jason Day

  • Three-time winner this season leads the current FedExCup standings by 179 points over fellow Australian Adam Scott.
  • Won both the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard and THE PLAYERS Championship in wire-to-wire fashion this year, the only player to win wire-to-wire this season. Before these two wins, Day was also the last player to win wire-to-wire on TOUR, at the 2015 BMW Championship.
  • Reclaimed the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking when he defeated Brooks Koepka in the Quarterfinals of the 2016 World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play, an event he won, defeating Louis Oosthuizen in the final, 5 and 4.
  • Has made four cuts in seven starts at the Memorial Tournament with T27 in 2009 his best showing.
  • Defeated Brandt Snedeker 6 and 4 in Sunday singles match during 2013 Presidents Cup held at Muirfield Village.
  • Columbus resident and member at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Rory McIlroy

  • Won the Irish Open in spectacular fashion earlier this month, finishing birdie-par-eagle to outduel Russell Knox down the stretch. Donated entire first-place check to the Rory McIlroy Foundation.
  • 11-time PGA TOUR winner looking for first PGA TOUR win since the 2015 Wells Fargo Championship.
  • Made five previous starts at the Memorial Tournament with 5th in 2011 his best showing.
  • In his most recent start at Muirfield Village, he held first-round lead after 9-under 63 in 2014 before finishing T15.
  • Best finish this season is T3 at World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.

Rickie Fowler

  • Posted a runner-up finish in his first start in the Memorial Tournament when he held at least a share of the lead in each of the first three rounds in 2010. Shot final-round 73 to finish three back of Justin Rose.
  • In six starts, has not posted a top-20 finish since second in 2010. Missed cut in last two starts at Muirfield Village.
  • Lost playoff to Hideki Matsuyama at this year’s Waste management Phoenix Open. Has two other top-five results this season (T4/Wells Fargo Championship, 5/Hyundai Tournament of Champions).

Bubba Watson

  • Seeking to become the first left-handed player to win the Memorial Tournament. Mike Weir’s T2 in 2008 is the best finish by a left-hander.
  • Won the 2016 Northern Trust Open for his ninth TOUR win.
  • Making his 10th appearance at the Memorial Tournament. He finished third in 2014, his most recent start in the event.

Hideki Matsuyama

  • Won the Memorial Tournament in his first appearance in 2014 and returned last year to finish T5.
  • First player from Japan to win the Memorial Tournament.
  • Has shot under-par in each of his eight rounds at Muirfield Village (70-67-69-69-64-71-71-70).
  • Winner of the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open, defeating Rickie Fowler in a playoff.

Additional Player Notes

  • The PGA TOUR has not witnessed a winner in his 40s this season. Six major champions over 40 years of age are scheduled to compete in the Memorial Tournament. The six have combined for 108 wins on the PGA TOUR; Davis Love III (52)/21 wins, Ernie Els (46)/19 wins, Jim Furyk (46)/17 wins, Angel Cabrera (46)/three wins, Phil Mickelson (45)/42 wins, Stewart Cink (43)/six wins.
  • Stewart Cink will be looking to extend his tournament record of consecutive cuts made to 19 when he tees it up this year. Cink’s streak of 18 consecutive cuts began in 1998 after missing the cut in his second appearance in 1997. He was T43 in 1996, the first year he played at Muirfield Village. Cink played at last week’s DEAN & DELUCA Invitational, his first start since the RBC Heritage in April, instead staying home to assist his wife, Lisa, who is fighting breast cancer.
  • Ernie Els (51) and Stewart Cink (52) will this week attempt to catch Kenny Perry Perry, who has 55 rounds of par or better at the Memorial Tournament. The record remains with Jay Haas, who owns 68 rounds of par or better at this event.
  • Ernie Els will make his 23rd start at the Memorial Tournament where his win in 2004 was one of six top-10 finishes. Els scoring average for each round is below 72, except for the final round where his average is 72.11.
  • Davis Love III will make his 24th start at the Memorial Tournament, the fifth-most of any player in tournament history. The four players with more starts are Jack Nicklaus (30), Jay Haas (29), Roger Maltbie (27) and Fuzzy Zoeller (25).
  • Davis Love III was an Assistant Captain to Fred Couples United States Team for the 2013 Presidents Cup played at Muirfield Village. Love, along with seven players from that U.S. Team (Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Keegan Bradley, Bill Haas, Hunter Mahan, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth) and eight players from the International Team from 2013 (Jason Day, Charl Schwartzel, Ernie Els, Hideki Matsuyama, Angel Cabrera, Marc Leishman, Brendon de Jonge, Graeme DeLaet) are scheduled to compete at Muirfield Village this week.
  • Mackenzie Tour and PGA TOUR Latinoamerica member Ethan Tracy will make his second start on the PGA TOUR at the Memorial Tournament after receiving a sponsor invitation. The former University of Arkansas golfer missed the cut at the Wells Fargo Championship last month after shooting 7-under 64 in the Monday qualifier. In 12 starts in Canada last year, the Hilliard, Ohio native recoded four top-10s and an additional three top-25s, while notching four top-10s in just five starts on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica. He finished 22nd on the Order of Merit in Canada and 40th on Latinoamerica. Earlier this month, Tracy claimed his first professional win at the Savannah Lakes Classic on the Swing Thought Tour, earning $16,500 for the victory.

Notes on the field

  • The top five players in the Official World Golf Ranking: Jason Day (No. 1), Jordan Spieth (No. 2), Rory McIlroy (No. 3), Bubba Watson (No. 4), Rickie Fowler (No. 5), and 31 of the top 50.
  • 16 different PGA TOUR winners from the 2015-16 Season: Emiliano Grillo, Smylie Kaufman, Justin Thomas, Russell Knox, Peter Malnati, Kevin Kisner, Jordan Spieth (2), Fabian Gomez, Jason Dufner, Hideki Matsuyama, Vaughn Taylor, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel, Jason Day (3), Tony Finau, Jim Herman.
  • Five past champions of the Memorial Tournament: David Lingmerth (2015), Hideki Matsuyama (2014), Matt Kuchar (2013), Ernie Els (2004), Jim Furyk (2002).

Wednesday Activities

  • The Wednesday Pro-Am will serve to highlight the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Patient Champion Program. The Patient Champion Program is designed to recognize the strong, driving spirit and optimistic outlook of each patient that inspires not only their family and loved ones, but the entire community. Eight Patient Champions from Nationwide Children’s Hospital will take center stage on Wednesday as they meet PGA TOUR professionals and enjoy a full morning of VIP tournament experiences. These inspiring children will also have the opportunity to meet special Nationwide guest Peyton Manning. The two-time Super Bowl champion, who recently retired from the NFL, will be playing in the Nationwide Invitational for the first time.
  • Tournament Honoree Johnny Miller and Memorial Golf Journalism Award recipient John Garrity will be featured during the annual Memorial Honoree Ceremony at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. World Golf Hall of Fame member Leo Diegel and Horton Smith, winner of the inaugural Masters Tournament, will also be posthumously recognized, along with Rhonda Glenn, the first full-time national TV network female sportscaster. The Honoree Ceremony will be followed at 4:30 p.m. with the Jack Nicklaus Clinic held at the practice facility. Wednesday also is Military Appreciation Day. Patrons with an active, retired, reserve or spouse (includes immediate family) military ID receive complimentary admission to the Tournament. Junior golf fans also receive complimentary admission with a ticketed adult on Wednesday. All youth 18 years of age and under receive a free junior ticket as a part of Junior Golf Day.

Muirfield Village Golf Club

  • Muirfield Village Golf Club is one of four Jack Nicklaus designs on TOUR in 2015-16 (five, if Nicklaus’ re-design of PGA National Resort & Spa/The Honda Classic is included). Other Nicklaus courses to host events on TOUR this season include the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West/CareerBuilder Challenge, Montreux G&CC/Barracuda Championship and Glen Abbey GC/RBC Canadian Open.
  • Muirfield Village Golf Club was named after Muirfield, Scotland, where Jack Nicklaus won the first of his three Open Championship titles in 1966. Along with hosting the Memorial Tournament every year since its inception in 1976, Muirfield Village has also hosted several national championships and international team competitions, including the 1986 U.S. Junior Amateur, the 1987 Ryder Cup, the 1992 U.S. Amateur, the 1998 Solheim Cup and the 2013 Presidents Cup. Muirfiled Village is the only venue to have hosted the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup and the Presidents Cup.

Miscellaneous Tournament Notes

  • Since 2005, the Memorial Tournament has been decided by two strokes or less each year, except for 2010 when Justin Rose earned a three-stroke win over Rickie Fowler.
  • There have been six playoffs for the title in the 40-year history of the event, including the inaugural tournament in 1976 when Roger Maltbie won. Other playoffs occurred in 1984, 1991 and 1992, 2014 and 2015.
  • Three of the last six winners, Hideki Matsuyama (2014), David Lingmerth (2015) and Justin Rose (2010) have made the Memorial Tournament their maiden victory on the PGA TOUR. Before Rose, Tom Lehman (1994) was the last player to make the Memorial Tournament his first PGA TOUR victory.
  • Six players have multiple wins at the Memorial Tournament; 5/Tiger Woods (1999-2001, 2009, 2012), 3/Kenny Perry (1991, 2003, 2008), 2/Jack Nicklaus (1977, 1984), 2/Hale Irwin (1983, 1985), 2/Greg Norman (1990, 1995), 2/Tom Watson (1979, 1996).
  • No player has ever taken less than 100 putts at the Memorial Tournament, however, four players have used exactly 100 putts: Spencer Levin (2012), Joe Ogilvie (2008), John Mallinger (2008) and Ernie Els (2004).
  • Jason Dufner was the last player to make an ace at the Memorial Tournament, holing his tee shot at the par-3 16th hole in the second round last year.
  • There has never been a wire-to-wire winner at the Memorial Tournament.
  • Last year’s 36-hole cut of 143 (-1) is the lowest in tournament history.
  • John Huston holds the 18-hole tournament record 11-under 61, posted in round one in 1996. Tom Lehman owns the 72-hole tournament record of 268 (-20), set in 1994.
  • No player has recorded a sub-30 back nine at Muirfield Village since Bobby Wadkins shot 29 in 1977. Aaron Baddeley, in the field this week, was the last player to shoot sub-30 on the front nine (29/2014).
  • David Lingmerth is seeking to become the first player since Tiger Woods, who won three consecutive Memorial Tournament titles in 1999, 2000 and 2001, to successfully defend at Muirfield Village.

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