Latest News

April 28, 2011

MASTERS WINNER CHARL SCHWARTZEL COMMITS

Dublin, Ohio (April 28, 2011) – Officials of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance announced today that 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel will compete in the 36th edition of the prestigious invitational Tournament hosted by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus. In addition, the Memorial has accepted commitments from world money leader Luke Donald, 2010 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Rickie Fowler and reigning British Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen to compete at Muirfield Village Golf Club May 30 – June 5, 2011.

One of the game’s young rising stars, Schwartzel, became an instant household name after mounting an historic come-from-behind victory to claim his first major championship and first PGA TOUR title at the 2011 Masters Tournament. The 26-year-old South African has six international victories to go with his lone TOUR win. Schwartzel is coming off a 2010 campaign in which he recorded three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up at the World Golf Championships – CA Championship, and he competed in 11 TOUR events, both single-season highs for his career. This will mark Schwartzel’s fourth appearance at the Memorial. His best finish came in 2009 when he tied for 27th. His scoring average at Muirfield Village Golf Club is 72.83.

With five top-10 finishes in just six events entered in 2011, including his third career PGA TOUR victory at the World Golf Championship- Accenture Match Play Championship and a runner-up finish at last weeks The Heritage, losing in a playoff to Brandt Snedeker, Donald currently ranks No. 3 in the world and No. 2 in FedExCup Points. He leads the PGA TOUR in scoring average at 68.97 and in earnings with $2,754,0670. En route to a career-high third place finish in the 2010 FedExCup Playoffs, Donald recorded seven top-10s, with three runner-up finishes, and he was a member of the victorious European Ryder Cup squad. In six previous appearances at the Memorial Tournament, Donald has two top-20 finishes, with a tie for sixth in 2008 his best outing. In 2009, Donald grabbed the first-round lead with an 8-under 64, which tied the Tournament record for low opening round. The 20 putts he required also set a Tournament record for fewest putts in a single round.

Fowler, one of the most popular players on the PGA TOUR, is coming off a stellar rookie season. On the strength of seven top-10s, including two runner-up finishes at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, Fowler captured PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year honors and pocketed more than $2.8 million in earnings. He capped off his season with his first Ryder Cup appearance for the U.S. at Celtic Manor in Wales. The 22-year-old superstar in the making has recorded two top-10 finishes so far in 2011. He is ranked No. 36 in the world and No. 55 in both FedExCup points and on the official PGA TOUR money list. After one visit to Muirfield Village Golf Club Fowler’s Tournament scoring average is 68.25. His 36-hole total of 131 tied a Tournament record Scott Hoch set in 1987.

Oosthuizen burst onto the global scene in 2010 when he lapped the field by seven strokes at the British Open at St. Andrews, Scotland. The seven-time international winner and native South African recorded two top-10 finishes in five events on the PGA TOUR in 2010, ending the year ranked No. 21 in the world. So far in 2011 he has posted two top-10s in six events and is No. 31 in the world. This will be Oosthuizen’s first Memorial Tournament appearance.

All-week Patron Badges to the 2011 Memorial Tournament are available to the general public. The badges, valid May 30 – June 5, cost $155 and include a complimentary Wednesday Practice Round ticket at no extra cost. As always, kids 12 and under can attend for free and kids 18 and under are admitted free on Wednesday for Junior Golf Day. The public may call the Tournament Ticket Office 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 877-MT BADGE or visit www.thememorialtournament.com to purchase badges. Daily tickets for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday practice rounds are also available. The cost is $30, and they are valid for all three practice-round days.