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April 12, 2018
Defending Memorial Tournament winner Jason Dufner joins 2016 FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy and major championship winner Jason Day to highlight early commitments to the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide
Dublin, Ohio – Officials of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide announced today that the Tournament has accepted entries from 2017 Memorial winner Jason Dufner and 2016 FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy to compete in the 43rd edition of the prestigious invitational hosted by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus.
The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide is May 28 – June 3 at world-renowned Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Dufner, 41, enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons in 2016 and 2017 for the first time since claiming two victories in 2012 followed by his first major championship title at the 2013 PGA Championship. This year will mark Dufner’s seventh start at the Memorial, where he’ll attempt to be the first player to successfully defend his title since Tiger Woods dominated the event with three straight victories from 1999 – 2001. Dufner set the 36-hole scoring record at 14-under 130 en route to his 2017 victory. His career statistics in the Memorial Tournament include earnings of $1,734,177.78 and a 70.90 scoring average. Born in Cleveland, Dufner became just the second Ohio-native to win the Memorial Tournament, joining Tournament Founder Jack Nicklaus, who won in 1977 and 1984. Dufner has recorded four top-25 finishes in 10 starts this season and sits No. 52 in the world ranking and No. 101 in the FedExCup standings.
“Returning to defend a tournament victory is always an honor, most especially when Mr. Nicklaus is the host,” Dufner said. “I will be reminded of what was a career highlight when I step on the grounds, and I will be motivated to get the job done once again.”
Four-time major champion McIlroy will make his seventh start at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. He has finished inside the top-10 on three occasions, with his best outing coming in 2016 when he tied for fourth place. His scoring average at Muirfield Village Golf Club is 70.77 to go with career earnings of $854,689.50. He posted his lowest 18-hole score at the Memorial in 2014, when he fired a 9-under-par 63 during the first round, en route to a T-15 finish. The 29-year-old from Northern Ireland is ranked No. 7 in the world and No. 27 in FedExCup points after recording his 14th PGA TOUR victory last month at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. The 2016 FedExCup champion and two-time PGA TOUR Player of the Year has recorded a win in six of the past eight seasons on TOUR, bringing home multiple wins in four of those years (2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016). McIlroy has garnered $38,670,440 in TOUR earning since turning professional in 2007.
"I am looking forward to returning to Jack's Tournament in Dublin, Ohio and competing on the world class golf course, Muirfield Village Golf Club,” said McIlroy. “Memorial Tournament week is special to me and many of the players recognizing the contributions Jack has made to the game and how the community supports the event."
Day has become a solid fixture atop PGA TOUR leaderboards since winning his first title in 2010 at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Since then he has posted 14 top-10 finishes in major championships alone, including a T-9 finish at last year’s PGA Championship, the event he captured in 2015 for his first major victory. He recorded a total of five top-10 finishes in 20 starts last season, including a runner-up effort at the AT&T Bryon Nelson. The 30-year-old Australian native, now living in Columbus, Ohio, has been a member of four International Presidents Cup squads (2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017) and has PGA TOUR career earnings of $40,272,953. His two top-10 finishes this season, including a win at the Farmers Insurance Open, place him No. 11 in FedExCup points and No. 14 in the world ranking. Day will be making his 10th start at the Memorial. He grabbed his best finish at Muirfield Village Golf Club last year when he tied for 15th. Day’s Tournament earnings stand at $319,776.44 and his scoring average is 72.03.
"Each year I look forward to playing the Memorial at Muirfield Village Golf Club,” Day said. “It's a world-class event with a world-class field, and equally important to me is the fact the Memorial is my hometown PGA TOUR event. The Columbus fans are so supportive of me and the Memorial. It is a personal highlight to be able to play Jack's course and Tournament every year."
The public may call the Tournament Ticket Office 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 877-MT BADGE (877-682-2343) or visit www.memorialbadges.com to purchase badges. Kids 18 and under can attend for free with a ticketed adult. Daily practice round tickets for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are also available. The cost is $35 and they are valid for all three practice-round days.
About the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide
The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide is held annually at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. The Tournament, founded and hosted by Jack Nicklaus, is conducted each year with three goals in mind: to honor the memory of individuals living and deceased who have distinguished themselves in the game of golf; to showcase the world’s best golfers competing on one of the most challenging venues in the world for the enjoyment of spectators; and to benefit many Greater Columbus Charities in alliance with the Nicklaus Children's Healthcare Foundation, Nationwide Children's Hospital and numerous other local organizations. For more information, visit www.thememorialtournament.com or call 614-889-6700.
About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
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