One look at the field assembled this week at Muirfield Village Golf Club, and many would believe it was the host of a major tournament like the U.S. Open.
However, while the PGA’s second major of the year is not for another month, a star-studded field is in Dublin for this week’s Memorial Tournament.
“This may be one of the toughest fields I’ve seen here in a long time,” said 1989 Memorial winner Bob Tway, who is playing for the 19th time at Muirfield. “This is always special because I won here, but even if I hadn’t won here, it would be special.”
Eight of the top 10 golfers in the Official World Golf Rankings will be competing in the Memorial, highlighted by the world’s No. 1 Tiger Woods. Phil Mickelson and David Toms are the only two top 10 players who didn’t make the trip to Muirfield.
This year’s field also has a strong international flavor. Six of the top 10 on the European PGA’s Volvo Order of Merit will tee it up tomorrow. Ernie Els, who sits atop the Order of Merit, has had perhaps the most success this season. He has already won two tournaments – the Heineken Classic and Johnnie Walker Classic – and finished sixth in the Masters.
Els’ main competition overseas this season has been Padraig Harrington, who sits second in the Order of Merit. Harrington had overtaken Els on the money list before Els’ fourth-place finish in the Volvo PGA Championship. Harrington is also coming off a win last week at the Deutsche Bank – SAP Open where he shot 19-under par.
Els is paired with Bob Burns and Charles Powell III for a 9:20 a.m. tee time. Harrington tees off a 1:20 p.m. with Tim Clark and Jay Haas.
“I think that’s what makes this a huge attraction,” said Tiger Woods, who is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. “You get a strong international field and get Jack (Nicklaus), and it’s a great tournament.”
One player whom few were looking at two weeks ago was Kenny Perry. Before last week’s Bank of America Colonial, Penny sat 40th on the money list and had missed two cuts this season.
But thanks in large part to a third-round 61, Perry dominated the field in Texas – finishing with a 19-under 261.
“I really didn’t have any nerves last week,” Perry said. “My hands felt good, and it was just my time.”
With that victory behind him, Perry is ready to contend at Muirfield.
“I have a lot of good memories here,” said Perry, who will tee off at 11:50 a.m. with Justin Leonard and K.J. Choi. “I won here in 1991, and this is where it all started. I want to play well here this week.”
The trio of Jeff Maggert, Jonathan Kaye and Chad Campbell will open up the first round at 8 a.m.
