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April 04, 2012

STEVE STRICKER TO DEFEND MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT TITLE

Officials of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance announced today that Steve Stricker has committed to returning to Muirfield Village Golf Club to defend his 2011 title. In addition, the Memorial has accepted early commitments from PGA TOUR rising stars Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson to compete in the 37th edition of the prestigious invitational Tournament hosted by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus.

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance is May 28 - June 3.

From 2009 to 2011, Stricker has been one of the most consistent and dominant players on TOUR. Over that period he finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in FedExCup points each year, ranked in the top-10 on the PGA TOUR money list and World Golf Rankings, and is the only player to record multiple TOUR wins. He hasn’t missed a cut since the PGA Championship in 2009. His 47 consecutive cuts currently ranks first on the PGA TOUR. Stricker hasn’t missed a beat in 2012. In five starts he has posted three top-10 finishes, including a win at the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions. The victory gave him at least one win in each of his past four seasons (2009-2012). He is currently ranked No. 5 in the World and No. 13 in both FedExCup points and on the PGA TOUR money list. Stricker’s victory at the Memorial vaulted him into ninth place on the Tournament’s all-time money list with more than $1.3 million and he is ranked 23^rd in scoring with a 71.47 stroke average.

Mahan is having a career year in 2012. He has recorded three top-10 finishes over seven starts, including victories at the World Golf Championship-Accenture Match Play Championship and last week’s Shell Houston Open – his fourth and fifth PGA TOUR titles, respectively. He currently ranks No. 1 in FedExCup points and earnings with more than $2.9 million and is No. 4 in the world rankings, his highest rank to date. Mahan has been a member of two Ryder Cup (2008, 2010) and three Presidents Cup (2007, 2009, 2011) teams. His best finish in five appearances at the Memorial is T-13 in 2011 and his Tournament scoring average is 72.44.

With three top-10 finishes in seven events in 2012, including a runner-up finish at the World Golf Championship-Cadillac Championship, Watson currently ranks 10th in earnings with more than $1.6 million. He is first in both driving distance (316.9 average) and greens in regulation (73.61 percent) on the PGA TOUR. He also ranks 12th on the FedExCup points list and is No. 16 in the world rankings. Watson enjoyed his best year in 2011, posting his first two-win season on TOUR with victories at the Farmers Insurance Open and Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He finished 2011 with a career-best $3,477,811 and made his first Presidents Cup appearance after making his first Ryder Cup team in 2010. Watson will be making his seventh trip to Muirfield Village Golf Club, where he will try to improve upon his 72.14 scoring average. His best finish is T-23 in 2007 and 2009.

All-week Patron Badges to the 2012 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance are available to the general public. The badges, valid May 28 – June 3, 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.

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