5 Big Names To Watch This Week At The Memorial Tournament
We look at five TaylorMade staffers who are all highly fancied to contend at the Memorial Tournament this week
Jack Nicklaus' Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, once again plays host to the Memorial Tournament as many of the world's best compete in yet another huge designated event on the PGA Tour.
A total of $20m in prize money is up for grabs in Ohio, as stars including World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and No.3 Rory McIlroy headline the stacked field.
Even before the 'designated' status, this is one of the 'Invitationals' on the PGA Tour along with the Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage and Charles Schwab Challenge where a limited-field of 120-to-132 players feature and a three-year PGA Tour card goes to the winner, as opposed to a two-year exemption for most of the other non-Majors.
Nicklaus' Muirfield Village on the outskirts of Columbus was opened in 1974 and named after Muirfield in Scotland, where the Golden Bear made his Walker Cup debut in 1959 and then won his first Open Championship in 1966.
The Memorial has famously been won by Tiger Woods five times and many of the sport's biggest names have triumphed at Muirfield Village since the tournament's inception nearly 50 years ago in 1976.
So, who will write their name in history this week? Here, we take a look at five TaylorMade athletes who could be getting a handshake from Jack Nicklaus after winning the Memorial Tournament on Sunday evening...
Memorial Tournament Key Info
| Course | Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio, USA |
| Yardage/Par | 7,533 yards/Par 72 |
| Dates | June 1-4 |
| Prize Money | $20m |
| Defending Champion | Billy Horschel (-13) |
5 Players To Watch This Week
Scottie Scheffler
- World Ranking: 1
- PGA Tour wins: 6
View Scottie Scheffler What's in the bag?
The World No.1 has been in imperious form this year and comes into the week as clear betting favourite after his T3 at the Charles Schwab Challenge on Sunday.
Scheffler was T2nd at the PGA Championship the week before and T5th in his previous start before that at the AT&T Byron Nelson.
In fact, he hasn't finished outside the top 12 all year in 11 starts, which have included two victories at the WM Phoenix Open and Players Championship.
He ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: off the tee, tee to green and total this season on the PGA Tour and also tops the greens in regulation statistics!
Could he pick up his third victory of the year this week? Most likely.
Rory McIlroy
- World Ranking: 3
- PGA Tour wins: 23
View Rory McIlroy What's in the bag?
The four-time Major champion posted a solid T7th finish at Oak Hill in the PGA Championship two weeks ago and he'll be arriving at Muirfield Village full of confidence.
Rory didn't quite have his best stuff that week but battled hard to contend in the early stages of the final round. Having had a week off to practice, the Northern Irishman is highly fancied to pick up his first Memorial Tournament win.
His long game has been as good as ever this year, ranking 2nd in Strokes Gained: tee to green as well as 1st in driving distance but it's on the greens where he has struggled. A good putting week may see him lap the field in Ohio.
COLLIN MORIKAWA
- World Ranking: 18
- PGA Tour wins: 5
View Collin Morikawa What's in the bag?
The two-time Major winner looks to win the Memorial this week at a venue he has had plenty of success at. He won the Workday Charity Open here in 2020, which was an additional event due to Covid-19, and then agonisingly lost in a playoff to Patrick Cantlay at the 2021 Memorial.
Morikawa started the year 2nd-3rd but has struggled since, albeit there have still been some very solid performances. A T10 at The Masters came after a T13 at The Players and a T6 at the Genesis Invitational so while clearly not firing on all cylinders, the talented American isn't too far away.
We've seen time and time again when Morikawa is firing on all cylinders, he's near-impossible to beat.
He could spark some light into his season this week at a place where he came so close two years ago. Definitely an outsider to watch!
KURT KITAYAMA
- World ranking: 20
- PGA Tour wins: 1
View Kurt Kitayama What's in the bag?
Kitayama won his maiden PGA Tour title in stunning fashion in March, where he birdied the 71st hole at Bay Hill to capture the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
That vaulted the American into the world's top 20, after a globe-trotting career that saw him come through various Asian tours as well as the DP World Tour, where he won twice in his first 11 starts on the European circuit.
Kitayama was T4th at the PGA Championship two weeks ago to record his best ever Major finish so there's every chance he can pick up another 'W' this week, where he'll have Tim Tucker once again on the bag - who won around here with Bryson DeChambeau in 2018.
Rickie Fowler
- World Ranking: 46
- PGA Tour wins: 5
View Rickie Fowler What's in the bag?
Rickie's next PGA Tour victory looks like it's on the way and Jack's Place would be a great setting for number six.
The American was T6th last week at Colonial to rise up the world rankings yet again, and he has now also booked his spot in the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in July, where he was T2nd in 2014.
Fowler has missed just one cut all year and is now back inside the world's top 50 after ending 2022 outside of the top 100. Look out for him this week!
For more on all of TaylorMade's Tour Staff and the company's products, visit the TaylorMade Golf website
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews.
-
How To Watch John Deere Classic 2026: Live Streams & TV Details For PGA Tour EventThe John Deere Classic traditionally offers a feast of attacking play and low scoring with players surging up the leaderboard.
-
'I Think He's Going To Be Terrible At Birkdale' - Bryson DeChambeau Tipped For Clean Sweep Of Missed Major CutsBryson DeChambeau will struggle to make the cut again at the Open Championship according to Johnson Wagner, who predicts he'll be "terrible" at Royal Birkdale
-
Rory McIlroy Shows Off Green Jacket As Europe Ryder Cup Stars Enjoy Day Out At WimbledonRory McIlroy stepped out in his Masters Green Jacket for an appearance at Wimbledon with fellow European Ryder Cup stars including Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood
-
'It Needs Him More Than He Needs It' - Is It Right That Loophole Will Save Rory McIlroy From Tripping PGA Tour's Minimum Events Rule?It seems likely the World No.2 will not fulfill the PGA Tour's minimum events threshold, but he will reportedly avoid any punishment - we ask 'is this fair?'
-
Rory McIlroy Set To Escape PGA Tour Punishment Thanks To 'Discretionary Rule'Rory McIlroy is set to fall short of playing the PGA Tour minimum events this year, but a discretionary rule exists that will see him escape any punishment for it
-
Rory McIlroy Spotted On Open Scouting Trip To Royal Birkdale - But Could His Major Focus Break PGA Tour Rules?Sir Nick Faldo spotted Rory McIlroy on a scouting trip to Royal Birkdale as he continues to put Major prep above tournament play, but could his light schedule get him into trouble for failing to meet the PGA Tour minimum?
-
'You Didn't See Jack Nicklaus Dropping F Bombs' - Brandel Chamblee Condemns Modern Golfers For On-Course BehaviorAfter Joaquin Niemann's behavior at the US Open, Brandel Chamblee says he's happy the code of conduct is now being enforced
-
Scottie Scheffler Insists 'Grand Slam Has Never Been A Motivating Factor' As He Chases History At The US OpenScottie Scheffler insists the Grand Slam is not his driving force in golf as he makes his first attempt at the clean sweep at Shinnecock Hills at the US Open
-
Rory McIlroy Warns Of 'Glorified Korn Ferry' Events On New Two-Track PGA Tour ScheduleRory McIlroy is worried some good events will become "glorified Korn Ferry" tournaments under the impending two-tier system, and wonders if the old PGA Tour wasn't actually the best structure
-
Rory McIlroy Calls For 'Caution' In US Open Setup To Avoid Another Shinnecock SagaRory McIlroy says the USGA needs to "use a little bit of caution" in setting up Shinnecock Hills this week to avoid a repeat of the previous two US Open dramas at the venue