 A MEMORIAL FOREVER?
Over the past year, banks in this country have merged or folded, unemployment rates have spiraled upward, and two of the Big Three have purged dealerships and declared bankruptcy. These events have taken their toll on golf sponsorships on the PGA Tour, and will likely have more impact as the recession/recovery go on. But the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club seems to be dodging the bullet.
Certainly crowds were a bit off this year, but when Tiger Woods holed that eagle flopper on 11 or when he lasered it to nine inches on 18, the roars from the crowd were just like old times. Tournament director Dan Sullivan can’t control who wins but it certainly “doesn’t suck” that Tiger is in the hunt on the weekend. Sullivan has worked diligently over the years to ensure everyone involved gets what they want from his tour stop.
Last year, the players seemed concerned about playability at Muirfield. “Fans would not notice it, but we are no longer furrow the bunkers and the rough was cut to about three inches for this year’s tournament,” says Sullivan. Player representatives met with Sullivan and his staff post tournament last year to address player concerns, but a third issue would see no progress… the speed of the greens.
“With the distances these players hit the ball, Mr. Nicklaus wanted to keep some teeth in the course and we do that with Muirfield’s greens,” says Sullivan. The players won two battles and offered nothing but praise for the greens post tournament. Tiger talked with the superintendent Paul Latshaw to gauge the greens at 14 on the Stimpmeter. Geoff Ogilvy says “they’re the best greens we play on all year.” Stewart Cink says “the greens are so smooth, once you get them online you feel like you can make them from anywhere.”
When the day is done, Muirfield Village is a place players want to play year in and year out. Any accusations of over the top conditions last year were certainly displaced by this year’s conditioning.
Fans are afforded spectacular views of the world’s best players from great sightlines on the range and putting green to many stadium-style opportunities out on the course, none more apparent at this year’s event than when eventual winner Tiger Woods holed a 45 foot eagle chip from behind the par-5 11th green. That green easily houses thousands of fans, all of whom get as good a look at players as they wish. The 18th green is a true stadium feel with the green in the bottom of an earthen bowl that accommodates late Sunday crowds well.
It’s likely, though, that the biggest part of the equation keeping a tour stop in Columbus is the Jack factor. Golf fans in Columbus almost become to immune to the incredible power wielded by Jack Nicklaus. The tournament is a must-play for many players because of his influence on the game. The way he lived his life and played the game is an inspiration. And the manner in which he conducts the tournament shows he’s not afraid to give accolades to the current fields. He’s just as happy to hand the winners trophy to Kenny Perry as he is Carl Petterson. Tiger Woods is a worthy champion just as was K.J Choi.
When you add all that up, it’s unlikely you’ll see The Memorial Tournament anywhere but making headlines in Columbus and around the world a couple of weeks before the U.S. Open every year. Ten years from now the PGA Tour schedule might not be recognizable compared to what it is today. But you can almost guarantee that the middle of the season will always be anchored by Jack’s Memorial Tournament.
Fans eat it up and that means sponsors will likely continue to feed the living, breathing tournament that Jack built. |
