Jack Nicklaus’ daring stance on Memorial | Sports News

Golf icon Jack Nicklaus has made the daring declare that the Memorial Tournament might surpass the Masters, because the competitors marks its fiftieth anniversary this 12 months. Nicklaus established the Memorial Tournament in 1976 to deliver elite-level golf to his home state of Ohio.

Tiger Woods holds the report with 5 victories, whereas Scottie Scheffler has claimed the final two tournaments and arrives in robust type, having completed third on the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Rory McIlroy will even make his return to Muirfield Village Golf Club, following a break for the reason that PGA Championship.

Although the Masters is extensively thought to be one of golf’s most prestigious occasions — and Nicklaus himself is a six-time champion — he believes the Memorial Tournament deserves far more recognition. Nicklaus based the Memorial Tournament, held in Dublin, Ohio, and continues to function its host. It comes after Brooks Koepka was left in tears at his son’s gesture to spouse Jena Sims.

“I had no idea where we were going to go,” Nicklaus mentioned of the unique imaginative and prescient. “I thought it would be great to bring something like the Masters back to Columbus.”

Muirfield Village Golf Club, affectionately generally known as Jack’s Place, presents competing gamers and their households one notably celebrated perk — the legendary milkshakes. Made to order, the shakes have achieved iconic standing for the reason that event’s inception in 1976.

While the milkshakes might not rival the storied pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches served at Augusta National, Nicklaus is assured that the general expertise at his event may nicely be superior. “I think in many ways, we’re better than the Masters,” Nicklaus added. “But then again the Masters is pretty sensational. But we’ve done pretty well here. And I think the people in central Ohio have embraced it.”

Since establishing the Memorial Tournament, Nicklaus has been met with overwhelming reward, with its fiftieth anniversary coinciding with America’s 250th birthday. “All we wanted to do is bring good golf to Central Ohio,” Nicklaus mentioned. “And the people have embraced it. People write me letters and thank me for allowing them to volunteer. But really we should be thanking them.”

While downing 16-ounce milkshakes containing over 1,000 energy stays a beloved custom, one of the event’s most cherished rituals sees Nicklaus personally congratulate the winner after they go away the 18th inexperienced. Over the previous two years, he has welcomed World No. 1 Scheffler in that position.

“The players love it because I’m sort of trying to take this tournament a little bit of the image of how I would like to be treated as a player,” Nicklaus defined. “I would like to walk out onto a golf course that’s in good condition.

“I wish to stroll out to a golf course that is difficult and fairly. I’d wish to be embraced by the followers and get taken care of within the clubhouse.

“And I think that’s what’s made the golf tournament. You know, I’ve played in a few golf tournaments, so I think that probably made it a little bit better over time.”