The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide: Spectator and Tournament Information
The Memorial Tournament takes place at Dublin, Ohio’s Muirfield Village Golf Club. The Memorial Tournament was founded in 1976 and is one of only five PGA Tournaments granted invitational status. The course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and presents golfers with one of the most challenging layouts in golf.
History
The story of the Memorial begins with one of the golf’s greatest players Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus had long envisioned returning to the Columbus, OH region to create a golf course and tournament that would allow him to give back to the region and game that gave him his livelihood. Muirfield Village was completed in 1974 and provided the first part of Nicklaus’ vision; the inaugural Memorial in 1976 fulfilled the second. Nicklaus has remained host of the tournament since that first tournament. Nicklaus founded the Memorial to remember golf's greats after their playing days had ended and to reflect on their achievements. Each year, one golfer and golf journalist are honored with Nicklaus himself being honored in 2000. All honorees have a plaque installed in their honor at the Muirfield Clubhouse.
The tournament has been won many legends of the game, including Curtis Strange, Jim Furyk and Hideki Matsuyama. Tiger Woods has the most Memorial titles with 5 while Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Kenny Perry, Hale Irwin and founder Jack Nicklaus are also multiple winners. Tom Lehman, winner in 1994, holds the record low score with -20.
Memorial Tournament Honorees
The Memorial Tournament was created by Jack Nicklaus as a way to both pay homage to the most important players in golf history and to challenge the best current golfers in the world. Each year, the winning golfer gets his named etched onto a plaque that remains up in the Muirfield Village clubhouse for the foreseeable future. The Memorial also honors one or more players each year with a banquet and their own plaque to commemorate all they have done for the sport of golf. Nicklaus himself was honored in 2000 for his own contributions to the game. Here is the complete list of Memorial Tournament Honorees.
| Year | Memorial Honorees |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Nick Price, Gene Littler, Ted Ray |
| 2019 | Judy Rankin |
| 2018 | Hale Irwin, Jock Hutchinson, Willie Turnesa |
| 2017 | Greg Norman, Tony Lema, Ken Venturi, Harvie Ward |
| 2016 | Johnny Miller, Leo Diegel, Horton Smith |
| 2015 | Nick Faldo, Dorothy Campbell, Jerome Travers, Walter Travis |
| 2014 | Annika Sorenstam, Jim Barnes, Joe Carr, Willie Park, Jr. |
| 2013 | Raymond Floyd |
| 2012 | Tom Watson |
| 2011 | Nancy Lopez |
| 2010 | Seve Ballesteros |
| 2009 | JoAnne Carner and Jack Burke Jr. |
| 2008 | Tony Jacklin, Ralph Guldahl, Charles B. Macdonald and Craig Wood |
| 2007 | Louise Suggs and Dow Finsterwald |
| 2006 | Michael Bonallack, Charles Coe, Lawson Little, Henry Picard, Paul Runyan and Denny Shute |
| 2005 | Betsy Rawls and Cary Middlecoff |
| 2004 | Lee Trevino and Joyce Wethered |
| 2003 | Julius Boros and William C. Campbell |
| 2002 | Kathy Whitworth and Bobby Locke |
| 2001 | Payne Stewart |
| 2000 | Jack Nicklaus |
| 1999 | Ben Hogan |
| 1998 | Ben Hogan |
| 1997 | Gary Player |
| 1996 | Billy Casper |
| 1995 | Willie Anderson, John Ball, James Braid, Harold HIlton and JH Taylor |
| 1994 | Mickey Wright |
| 1993 | Arnold Palmer |
| 1992 | Joseph Dey |
| 1991 | Babe Zaharias |
| 1990 | Jimmy Demaret |
| 1989 | Henry Cotton |
| 1988 | Patty Berg |
| 1987 | Old and Young Tom Morris |
| 1986 | Robert de Vicenzo |
| 1985 | Chick Evans |
| 1984 | Sam Snead |
| 1983 | Tommy ARmour |
| 1982 | Glenna Collett-Vare |
| 1981 | Harry Vardon |
| 1980 | Byron Nelson |
| 1979 | Gene Sarazen |
| 1978 | Francis Ouimet |
| 1977 | Walter Hagen |
| 1976 | Bobby Jones |
Spectator Information
Fans looking to make the trip to Ohio have numerous options. The tournament sells weekly badges starting with the Patron Badge for $185. This will give grounds access for the entire week, including the Wednesday Pro-Am and practice rounds. A Pavilion Badge is also available for $290 which provides access to the grounds and the air-conditioned Pavilion overlooking the 18th green. The Pavilion also features breakfast and lunch buffets for purchase and a cash bar. For $290 spectators can get the Golden Bear Club Badge that grants access to the grounds and the Golden Bear Club sports bar located between the 10th fairway and 14th green. This option features an upgraded food menu, cash bar and television viewing. Complimentary youth tickets for anyone 18 and under are also available for kids accompanying an adult ticketholder, while active duty, reserve and veteran members of the armed forces are eligible for 4 complimentary tickets for Military Appreciation Day on May 30th.
For fans not able to attend the tournament in person, television coverage will be available from both the Golf Channel and CBS.