The Memorial Tournament (branded as the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday for sponsorship reasons, and also referred to as simply the Memorial) is a PGA Tour golf tournament founded in 1976 by Jack Nicklaus and originally played on Memorial Day weekend. It is played on a Nicklaus-designed course at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb north of Columbus. The golf course passes through a large neighborhood called Muirfield Village, which includes a 1999 bronze sculpture of Nicklaus mentoring a young golfer located in the wide median of Muirfield Drive.

History The greater Columbus area is where Jack Nicklaus spent most of his early life. The golf course he designed at Muirfield Village, north of Columbus, was opened in May 1974, and two years later it hosted the first Memorial Tournament. The par-72 course was , a considerable length for the mid-1970s.

At the Masters Tournament in 1966, Nicklaus had spoken of his desire to create a tournament that, like The Masters, had a global interest, and was inspired by the history and traditions of the game of golf. He also wanted the tournament to give back in the form of charitable contributions to organizations benefiting needy adults and children throughout Columbus and Ohio. The primary charitable beneficiary of the tournament is Nationwide Children's Hospital.

One of the features of the tournament is a yearly induction ceremony honoring past golfers. A plaque for each honoree is installed near the clubhouse at Muirfield; Nicklaus himself was the 2000 honoree, and his wife Barbara was honored in 2025.

Invitational status The Memorial Tournament is one of only five tournaments given "invitational" status by the PGA Tour, and consequently it has a reduced field of only 73 players in 2024 (as opposed to most full-field open tournaments with a field of 156 players). The other four tournaments with invitational status are the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the RBC Heritage, Charles Schwab Challenge, and the Genesis Invitational. Invitational tournaments have smaller fields (between 69 and 132 players), and have more freedom than full-field open tournaments in determining which players are eligible to participate in their event, as invitational tournaments are not required to fill their fields using the PGA Tour Priority Ranking System. Furthermore, unlike full-field open tournaments, invitational tournaments do not offer open qualifying (aka Monday qualifying).

In June 2014, the PGA Tour approved a resolution to grant the winner a three-year exemption, one more than other regular Tour events and on par with winners of the World Golf Championships, The Tour Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Field

For the 2026 season, eligible PGA Tour members who can participate in this 72-player event include: Top 50 players from the previous year's FedExCup Playoffs & Eligibility Points List through the Playoffs Top 10 available players from the current year's FedExCup Playoffs and Eligibility Points List through the Charles Schwab Challenge Top 5 available players who accumulate the most FedExCup points in the "swing" of full-field events prior to this event Tournament winners in the current season PGA Tour members in the Top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking as of the Monday before the tournament 4 sponsor exemptions restricted to PGA Tour members The Division 1 College Player of the Year from 2025 (the Jack Nicklaus Award) One exemption for exceptional lifetime achievement of 80+ career wins Remaining positions filled by players below the top 10 available players from the current year's FedExCup Playoffs & Eligibility Points List through the Charles Schwab Challenge

Tournament highlights 1976: Roger Maltbie won the inaugural Memorial Tournament, defeating Hale Irwin in a four-hole aggregate playoff. On the third extra hole Maltbie's errant approach shot appeared headed for the gallery when it hit a post, causing the ball to bounce onto the green, where both parred to remain tied; Maltbie then birdied the 18th hole to win the playoff. 1977: Poor weather resulted in a Monday finish for the tournament; host Jack Nicklaus won by two shots over Hubert Green. 1980: David Graham birdied the 72nd hole to edge Tom Watson by one shot; Watson was bidding to become the first Memorial champion to defend his title. 1984: Jack Nicklaus defeated Andy Bean in a sudden-death playoff to become the first two-time Memorial winner. 1991: Kenny Perry won for the first time on the PGA Tour, defeating Irwin on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. 1993: Paul Azinger birdied the 72nd hole by holing out from a bunker to finish one shot ahead of Corey Pavin. 1994: Tom Lehman shot a tournament record 268 (-20) for 72 holes on his way to a five-shot victory over Greg Norman. 2000: Tiger Woods became the first Memorial winner to successfully defend his title, finishing five shots clear of Ernie Els. 2001: Woods won for a third consecutive year, seven shots ahead of runners-up Paul Azinger and Sergio García. 2005: Bart Bryant saved par from a hazard on the 72nd hole to win by one shot over Fred Couples. 2007: K. J. Choi shot a final round 65 to win by one shot over Ryan Moore. 2012: Woods birdied three of the last four holes, including a chip in on the 16th hole, to turn a two-shot deficit into a two-shot victory. The win was Woods' 73rd PGA Tour victory, which tied Jack Nicklaus for second most PGA Tour wins. 2013: Defending champion Woods posted a third round back nine score of 44, the worst in his career. He finished 20 shots behind winner Matt Kuchar. 2014: Hideki Matsuyama won in a playoff against Kevin Na; he was the first Japanese PGA Tour winner since 2008. 2015: In the third round, Tiger Woods shot an 85, the worst round of his professional career. Three-time winner Kenny Perry played his last PGA Tour event. 2016: William McGirt won for the first time on the PGA Tour after 165 starts. 2020: Jon Rahm's win elevated him to the world number one ranking for the first time in his career. 2021: Defending champion Rahm held a six-stroke lead after 54 holes, but was forced to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19. 2024: Scottie Scheffler wins the Memorial, becoming the first since Tom Watson in 1980 to win five PGA Tour events in a season prior to the U.S. Open.

Course layout Muirfield Village Golf Club in 2016 Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTotal Yards4704554012005274475631854123,6604715671844553635292014784843,7327,392 Par444354534364534453443672 Source:

Winners and honorees Year Winner Score To par Margin ofvictory Runner(s)-up Winner'sshare ($) Honoree(s) 2026 J. T. Poston 276 −12 Playoff Ryan Gerard 4,000,000 David Graham 2025 Scottie Scheffler (2) 278 −10 4 strokes Ben Griffin 4,000,000 Barbara Nicklaus 2024 Scottie Scheffler 280 −8 1 stroke Collin Morikawa 4,000,000 Juli InksterTom Weiskopf 2023 Viktor Hovland 281 −7 Playoff Denny McCarthy 3,600,000 Larry Nelson 2022 Billy Horschel 275 −13 4 strokes Aaron Wise 2,160,000 Charlie Sifford 2021 Patrick Cantlay (2) 275 −13 Playoff Collin Morikawa 1,674,000 Nick PriceGene LittlerTed Ray 2020 Jon Rahm 279 −9 3 strokes Ryan Palmer 1,674,000 2019 Patrick Cantlay 269 −19 2 strokes Adam Scott 1,638,000 Judy Rankin 2018 Bryson DeChambeau 273 −15 Playoff An Byeong-hun Kyle Stanley 1,602,000 Hale IrwinJock HutchisonWillie Turnesa 2017 Jason Dufner 275 −13 3 strokes Rickie Fowler Anirban Lahiri 1,566,000 Greg NormanTony LemaKen VenturiHarvie Ward 2016 William McGirt 273 −15 Playoff Jon Curran 1,530,000 Johnny MillerLeo DiegelHorton Smith 2015 David Lingmerth 273 −15 Playoff Justin Rose 1,116,000 Nick FaldoDorothy CampbellJerome TraversWalter Travis 2014 Hideki Matsuyama 275 −13 Playoff Kevin Na 1,116,000 Annika SörenstamJim BarnesJoe CarrWillie Park Sr. 2013 Matt Kuchar 276 −122 strokes Kevin Chappell 1,116,000 Raymond Floyd 2012 Tiger Woods (5) 279 −92 strokes Andrés Romero Rory Sabbatini 1,116,000 Tom Watson 2011 Steve Stricker 272 −161 stroke Brandt Jobe Matt Kuchar 1,116,000 Nancy Lopez 2010 Justin Rose 270 −183 strokes Rickie Fowler 1,080,000 Seve Ballesteros 2009 Tiger Woods (4) 276 −121 stroke Jim Furyk 1,080,000JoAnne CarnerJack Burke Jr. 2008 Kenny Perry (3) 280 −82 strokes Mathew Goggin Jerry Kelly Justin Rose Mike Weir 1,080,000Tony JacklinRalph GuldahlCharles B. MacdonaldCraig Wood 2007 K. J. Choi 271 −171 stroke Ryan Moore 1,080,000Louise SuggsDow Finsterwald 2006 Carl Pettersson 276 −122 strokes Zach Johnson Brett Wetterich 1,035,000Michael BonallackCharles CoeLawson LittleHenry PicardPaul RunyanDenny Shute 2005 Bart Bryant 272 −161 stroke Fred Couples 990,000Betsy RawlsCary Middlecoff 2004 Ernie Els 270 −184 strokes Fred Couples 945,000Lee TrevinoJoyce Wethered 2003 Kenny Perry (2) 275 −132 strokes Lee Janzen 900,000Julius BorosWilliam C. Campbell 2002 Jim Furyk 274 −142 strokes John Cook David Peoples 810,000Kathy WhitworthBobby Locke 2001 Tiger Woods (3) 271 −177 strokes Paul Azinger Sergio García 738,000Payne Stewart 2000 Tiger Woods (2) 269 −195 strokes Ernie Els Justin Leonard 558,000Jack Nicklaus 1999 Tiger Woods 273 −152 strokes Vijay Singh 459,000Ben Hogan 1998 Fred Couples 271 −174 strokes Andrew Magee 396,000Peter Thomson 1997 Vijay Singh 202 −14 2 strokes Jim Furyk Greg Norman 342,000Gary Player 1996 Tom Watson (2) 274 −142 strokes David Duval 324,000Billy Casper 1995 Greg Norman (2) 269 −19 4 strokes Mark Calcavecchia David Duval Steve Elkington 306,000Willie AndersonJohn BallJames BraidHarold HiltonJohn Henry Taylor 1994 Tom Lehman 268 −205 strokes Greg Norman 270,000Mickey Wright 1993 Paul Azinger 274 −141 stroke Corey Pavin 252,000Arnold Palmer 1992 David Edwards 273 −15Playoff Rick Fehr 234,000Joseph Dey 1991 Kenny Perry 273 −15 Playoff Hale Irwin 216,000Babe Zaharias 1990 Greg Norman 216 E 1 stroke Payne Stewart 180,000Jimmy Demaret 1989 Bob Tway 277 −112 strokes Fuzzy Zoeller 160,000Henry Cotton 1988 Curtis Strange 274 −142 strokes David Frost Hale Irwin 160,000Patty Berg 1987 Don Pooley 272 −163 strokes Curt Byrum 140,000 Old Tom MorrisYoung Tom Morris 1986 Hal Sutton 271 −174 strokes Don Pooley 100,000Roberto De Vicenzo 1985 Hale Irwin (2) 281 −71 stroke Lanny Wadkins 100,000Chick Evans 1984 Jack Nicklaus (2) 280 −8Playoff Andy Bean 90,000Sam Snead 1983 Hale Irwin 281 −71 stroke Ben Crenshaw David Graham 72,000Tommy Armour 1982 Raymond Floyd 281 −72 strokes Peter Jacobsen Wayne Levi Roger Maltbie Gil Morgan 63,000Glenna Collett-Vare 1981 Keith Fergus 284 −41 stroke Jack Renner 63,000Harry Vardon 1980 David Graham 280 −81 stroke Tom Watson 54,000Byron Nelson 1979 Tom Watson 285 −33 strokes Miller Barber 54,000Gene Sarazen 1978 Jim Simons 284 −41 stroke Billy Kratzert 50,000Francis Ouimet 1977 Jack Nicklaus 281 −72 strokes Hubert Green 45,000Walter Hagen 1976 Roger Maltbie 288 E Playoff Hale Irwin 40,000Bobby Jones Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records. Source:

Multiple winners Eight men have won the Memorial Tournament more than once through 2025:

5 wins: Tiger Woods (1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2012) 3 wins: Kenny Perry (1991, 2003, 2008) 2 wins: Jack Nicklaus (1977, 1984), Hale Irwin (1983, 1985), Greg Norman (1990, 1995), Tom Watson: (1979, 1996), Patrick Cantlay (2019, 2021), Scottie Scheffler (2024, 2025)

See also Jack Nicklaus Museum on the campus of Ohio State University

Notes

References

External links

Coverage on the PGA Tour's official site Nicklaus.com – Muirfield Village Golf Club Jack Nicklaus Museum Video Highlights: The 1976 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village