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May 01, 2012

MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS PHIL MICKELSON AND RORY MCILROY COMMIT

Officials of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance announced today that World Golf Hall of Fame nominee and four-time major champion Phil Mickelson and 2011 U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy have entered the 37^th Memorial Tournament May 28-June 3 at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Two of the game’s most popular players, Mickelson and McIlroy join an already impressive list of early entries that includes reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson and 2011 Tournament winner Steve Stricker.

On the strength of four top-10 finishes in nine events, including his 40th career PGA TOUR title in February at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Mickelson is No. 10 in the world rankings and No. 3 in FedExCup points and on the PGA TOUR money list with more than $2.5 million. Mickelson has won four major championships, the 2004, ’06 and ‘10 Masters and the ’05 PGA Championship. He has finished in the top-10 on the PGA TOUR money list 10 of the past 12 seasons, earning a career-high $5,819,988 in 2007. Since turning professional in 1992, Mickelson, 41, has had only three seasons without a PGA TOUR victory. His 2012 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am title marked his ninth consecutive year with at least one TOUR win, the longest such streak of his career and on the TOUR. He has been a member of eight U.S. Ryder Cup teams (1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010) and nine President Cup teams (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011).

Mickelson, who will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame next week, has posted three top-10 finishes in 12 appearances at the Memorial with six top-20 finishes in his last seven visits (including a withdrawal in 2007 due to a wrist injury). His 71.33 scoring average and more than $832,000 in earnings ranks him No. 16 and No. 22, respectively, in Tournament history. His best finish at Muirfield Village came in 2006 when he tied for fourth with Brandt Jobe and Adam Scott. Mickelson’s best scoring performance at the Memorial came in 2010 with an 11-under-par 277 aggregate total, good for a share of fifth place.

McIlroy has enjoyed tremendous success since bursting onto the U.S. scene in 2010. That year he posted five top-10 finishes, including his first PGA TOUR victory at the Wells Fargo Championship, and he made his first Ryder Cup appearance in Europe’s victory in Wales. In 2011 he added his first major championship victory at the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., with a record-setting performance that included the lowest 72-hole score in relation to par, 16-under 268. At 22, he became the youngest U.S. Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923 with his wire-to-wire win.

A native of Northern Ireland, McIlroy hasn’t slowed down this year either, recording a victory at the Honda Classic and two other top-3 finishes. In just four TOUR starts, McIlroy is ranked No. 6 in FedExCup points and No. 4 in earnings with more than $2.4 million. In early March he realized another first as he became the No. 1 player in the world. He is currently ranked No. 2 after Luke Donald’s third place finish at last week’s Zurich Classic was enough to reclaim the No. 1 spot from McIlroy. The top ranking has passed between the two four times in the past six weeks.

As far as his performance in the Memorial Tournament, McIlroy has posted top-10 finishes in each of his two previous trips to Dublin, Ohio. He tied for 10^th in 2010 and bettered his inaugural performance by five spots in last year’s event to finish fifth after holding the first-round lead. His two-year scoring average at Muirfield Village Golf Club is 69.50 to go with $404,000 in earnings.

Guaranteed availability for all-week Patron Badges to the 2012 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance are available to the general public through May 20, as are special offers that include The President’s Cup 2013 tickets at Muirfield Village. Memorial Tournament 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.