The “what” has not changed as much as the “when” at the Memorial Tournament, which runs May 29 to June 1 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin.
The big difference this year is the PGA Tour event has returned to its traditional Memorial Day week spot on the tour calendar. Fans who had to wait an extra week to attend the 2024 Memorial, a move deeper into June that pushed into the beginning of vacation season, can take solace in knowing things are back to normal.
Memorial host and founder Jack Nicklaus also no longer has to answer questions about the Memorial serving as a lead-up to the U.S. Open. A year ago, Nicklaus was not thrilled that the Memorial and Canadian Open switched places, which put his tournament only one week ahead of the U.S. Open instead of two, but he kept his comments about the tour’s scheduling policy mostly positive.
But the Golden Bear got his wish this year, as the Memorial is back to being two weeks before America’s national championship, while the Canadian Open returns to its spot just preceding the Open.
Defending Memorial champion Scottie Scheffler also likes that the tournament is back to its Memorial Day week slotting.
“I remember last year it was fairly challenging going from playing Memorial to going and playing the U.S. Open,” Scheffler said. “Muirfield always is a golf course that can take a lot out of you, and last year was a challenging week playing (Muirfield), so I was a bit tired by the time I got to the U.S. Open, so it will be nice to have some off weeks before these major championships.”
Happy Thursday Bunker Bar located next to 16th green
Fans hoping to see a hole-in-one, or just throw one back, can plop down at the Happy Thursday Bunker Bar adjacent to the 16th green. The new on-course gathering spot sports a jumbo video board.
Technics Sound Deck takes fans up close and personal with pros
A new audio experience, the Technics Sound Deck, allows fans at No. 16 to use headphones with a direct feed to the tee box, which means being able to listen to players and caddies before the shots are hit.
Bogey Party is back in business
The Bogey Inn remains under construction, but visitors can party on at the Bogey Party, featuring music and drinks. The festivities run May 29-31 at the Inn, located at 6013 Glick Road in Dublin.
Hours of Operation: May 29, 10 a.m. – midnight; May 30, 10 a.m. – 2 a.m.; May 31, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Entertainment Schedule: May 29, Derek Posey (4:30-7:30 p.m.); Rockhouse (8-11 p.m.); May 30, Dan Orr (3:45-6:45 p.m.); Steven Walsh (7-8 p.m.); Shucking Bubba Deluxe (8:15 p.m. to midnight).; May 31, Chris Logsdon (5-7:30 p.m.); Martini Affair (8 p.m. to midnight).
A reminder: pros will tee off No. 1 in twosomes
Same as last year, the reduced size of the field, from 120 to 71, means half the golf course will be empty for a few hours each morning as all players go off the No. 1 tee in twosomes. The smaller field should lessen the impact of weather delays. Fewer players mean an easier time getting the round completed after rain and lightning pass through.
The change in sending all players off No. 1 also means more fans gathering around fewer holes, and concession stands will be more crowded. On the plus side, the atmosphere should make Thursday and Friday feel more like Saturday and Sunday as fans race across nine holes instead of 18 to find the players making the most birdies.
Sports columnist Rob Oller can be reached at [email protected] and on X.com at @rollerCD. Read his columns from the Buckeyes’ national championship season in “Scarlet Reign,” a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Dispatch. Details at OhioState.Champs.com
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