Scheduled initially from June 4 to 7, the Memorial Tournament dear to Jack Nicklaus has lost none of its standing, despite a delay of just over a month. The entire world top 8 responded in particular to the invitation of the Golden Bear. The first recovery tests after the cancellations linked to the covid-19 had already been widely acclaimed by the stars, but this week, the big comeback of Tiger Woods gives an additional dimension to the Memorial Tournament. A five-time tournament winner, the Tiger has not played in official competition since the Genesis Invitational in February (although he participated in a charity event with Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady and Payton Manning in May). This week he will aim for a sixth victory on the Muirfield Village route, where he has never missed the cut in seventeen appearances. The Tiger will be associated with Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka in the first two rounds.
A fight for five for the number one spot
It is the first time in 63 years that two PGA Tour tournaments have been played successively on the same route. After the Workday Charity Open last week won by Collin Morikawa against Justin Thomas in the playoff, the course designed by Jack Nicklaus will once again be the theater of the Memorial Tournament, as always since 1976. The title holder Patrick Cantlay will have a lot to do facing the gratin of world golf, especially since the 2018 winner, Bryson DeChambeau acts as a very solid contender after his victory two weeks ago at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, thereby validating the benefits of his incredible physical transformation. The number one place in the world will also be at stake since they will be five contenders at the start. Rory McIlroy is still master of the world, but he seems to be increasingly threatened by his dolphin Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, second last week here, Dustin Johnson and Webb Simpson, already winners since the recovery.
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Victor Perez is also back!
Victor Perez stayed in Florida for three weeks after a disappointing recovery (three cuts missed) despite beautiful cards that were too intermittent. The number three tricolor is firmly established in the world top 50 and the great deadlines will follow one another until the end of the year with in particular the Masters in sight (November 12-15). The Tarbais will not be able to benefit from its usual caddey JP Fitzgerald, still stuck in Dubai, but it will rely this week on the experience of the former partner of Fred Couples and Vijay Singh in particular, Cayce Kerr.
Memorial Tournament (PGA Tour) - $ 9,300,000 in prize money (€ 8,158,000)
Players to watch:
Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa and Webb Simpson (USA), Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia (Esp), Jason Day (Aus), Ian Poulter, and Justin Rose (Ang ), Rory McIlroy (IrN) and Viktor Hovland (Nor)
French at the start:
Victor Perez
To follow the Memorial Tournament (PGA Tour) on television:
Thursday July 16, 1st round: 4.30pm (Golf +); 1:09 am (Canal + Sport)
Friday July 17, 2nd round: 4:30 p.m. (Golf +); 10:32 p.m. (Canal + Sport)
Saturday July 18, 3rd round: 4.30pm (Golf +); 01:12 (Canal + Sport)
Sunday July 19, 4th round: 5:00 p.m. (Golf +); 10:10 p.m. (Canal + Sport)