Since Roger Maltbie won the inaugural Memorial in 1976, Jack’s tournament has been one of the premier events annually on the PGA Tour.
Past champions include Tom Watson, Hale Irwin, Kenny Perry, Paul Azinger and Greg Norman. Nicklaus won his own tournament in 1977 and 1984.
Muirfield Village is one of the courses Tiger Woods has found success on over the years, winning five Memorial Tournaments.
The tournament annually recognizes and honors past golfing greats. Bobby Jones was the first honoree in 1976 and over the years, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Glenna Collett Vare, Patty Berg, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Ben Hogan have been recognized.
Annika Sorenstam is the honoree for 2014 and will be recognized in a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.
Sorenstam retired from the LPGA Tour in 2008 with 72 career wins, including 10 major championships. She dominated the women’s game for over 13 years from 1995 through 2008.
She now devotes her time to her family, her various business interests and charitable activities.
The Memorial annually occupies a spot on the calendar two weeks prior to the U.S. Open. The marquee names use this week to challenge their game on Muirfield Village in preparation for the rigors of a USGA championship course.
Matt Kuchar is the defending champion. All four major champions from the 2013 season, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson and Jason Dufner, as well as, 2014 Masters Champion Bubba Watson are in the field this week.
Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald, Jordan Spieth, Steve Stricker, Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy bring additional star power to the Memorial.
In Jack Nicklaus’ own words,
“A professional golfer’s career is not complete until they have won the Memorial at Muirfield Village.”
In his press conference on Wednesday afternoon prior to the start of the Memorial, Nicklaus was amazed at the good condition of the course.
“After the Presidents Cup last October the course required 15 truckloads of sod and 30 acres of new seeding. Winter set in immediately and nothing germinated with the severe winter in Ohio.”
He continued,
“The warm weather over the past two weeks allowed the maintenance crew to fully prepare the course and it is in excellent shape for the tournament this week.”
Next to Ohio State football, the Memorial is the most important sporting event in the central Ohio area every year.
The “Golden Bear” is Ohio’s Favorite Son and his efforts to bring a top-flight golf tournament and the PGA Tour to this course is a testament to his popularity among the current-day players.
All quotes are from writer's notes from attendance at the Memorial Tournament.