The 50th Memorial at Jack's Place
The Memorial Tournament returns to Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, with the first round teeing off Thursday morning. The event carries a $20 million purse with a $4 million winner's share, and this marks the 50th edition of the tournament founded and hosted by Jack Nicklaus. As a PGA Tour Signature Event, the field features 72 players, six of whom have won the Memorial in the past.
The central storyline is unavoidable. Scottie Scheffler won the Memorial 12 months ago by four shots, making him just the second player, after Tiger Woods, to win the Memorial in consecutive years. Tiger Woods holds the all-time record with five Memorial titles, and his three consecutive wins from 1999 to 2001 is the specific record Scheffler is chasing in 2026. The world number one arrives with momentum after recent success, positioned to make history in central Ohio.
A Signature Test of Precision
Muirfield Village is a layout that rewards good shots and punishes wayward drives, widely regarded as one of the most brutal layouts on the planet. The course measures 7,573 yards with a par of 72, providing a comprehensive examination of every element in a player's arsenal.
Muirfield is the fourth-longest course on the PGA Tour schedule, and driving accuracy is paramount. Ball-striking takes precedence over distance. Players who can control trajectory into firm greens and navigate the strategic demands of a Nicklaus design will position themselves for success. This is not a venue for aggressive gamblers. Patience and precision define the week at Muirfield Village, and the scoring reflects that discipline. The tournament provides a fitting test for the game's finest players as they prepare for the forthcoming US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
Players to Watch
Reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler headlines the field as the world number one and leader in FedEx Cup points. There is a perception that Scheffler is in something of a slump, but he made all 11 cuts this season and leads the FedEx Cup standings with $11.6 million in prize money. His course knowledge and recent form position him as the prohibitive favorite.
World number two Rory McIlroy is in the field, marking the first signature event that has featured both McIlroy and Scheffler since the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. The two-time defending Masters champion brings elite ball-striking to a course that rewards exactly that skill set.
Russell Henley collected his sixth PGA victory on Sunday in a playoff at the Charles Schwab Challenge, and he placed fifth at this tournament in 2025. Henley leads the tour in driving accuracy percentage, a critical advantage on this layout. His precision off the tee makes him a natural fit for Muirfield Village.
Wyndham Clark won the CJ Cup with a 30-under-par total, playing breathtaking golf, but Muirfield Village is a different kettle of fish. The U.S. Open champion will need to translate birdie-fest success into the patience required for this tougher test.
Pool Strategy for the Memorial
Past Memorial winners returning to Muirfield Village include 2022 winner Billy Horschel, 2019 and 2021 winner Patrick Cantlay, 2014 winner Hideki Matsuyama, 2013 winner Matt Kuchar, and 2010 winner Justin Rose. Course history matters at player-hosted invitationals, where comfort and familiarity with demands become differentiators in tight leaderboards.
When building your Memorial roster, prioritize proven ball-strikers with Muirfield experience over bombers riding hot streaks from easier venues. The course places a premium on fairways and greens in regulation. Players who can manage their misses and avoid compounding errors will separate from the field over 72 holes. This is not the week to chase variance.
Make Your Picks
The Memorial Tournament offers a premier field and a legitimate major-caliber test weeks before the U.S. Open. Whether you're running a traditional event pool or exploring prize money formats, this is the week to engage your league. Set up your Memorial pool at golfpools.co/event/memorial-tournament-2026-preview and see how Scheffler's pursuit of history stacks up against a loaded field.
If you're organizing your first pool this season, head to golfpools.co/login?next=/admin/create-pool to create a pool in under two minutes. Track live leaderboards, automate scoring, and let your group focus on the golf while the platform handles the rest.