PGA Tour make unsurprising announcement breaks down in tears after Jack Nicklaus was confirmed ……
The PGA Tour have confirmed the Memorial Tournament, hosted by Jack Nicklaus, will be switching dates so it won’t conflict with next year’s US Open.
The PGA Tour have confirmed next year’s Memorial Tournament will be moving back to its traditional timeslot.
The 2024 edition of the tournament, held annually at Muirfield Village in Columbus, Ohio, was played over 6-9 June, nearly two weeks after Memorial Day and a week before the third men’s major of the year.
Living golf legend Jack Nicklaus complained about the date during his news conference before the signature event.
“We would prefer the other week,” he said, confirming that discussions were already underway with PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan about changing.
The tournament date was moved ‘as a favour’ to the Tour, Nicklaus said.
Nicklaus was clear in explaining why he wasn’t a fan.
“I would rarely play a week before a major championship,” he said.
“So I’m asked to be putting on a golf tournament that I would never play, and that is the essential [issue] from my standpoint.”
Confirming the change on 17 June, Nicklaus said in a statement: “The relationship the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday has enjoyed with the PGA Tour is more like a partnership
“The Tour has acted in the best interest of the Memorial Tournament, and we, in turn, have always supported the Tour and its initiatives.
“That is why a year ago when the Tour presented us its new business model, we were willing to work with them and move the 2024 date to a week before the US Open.
“Over recent months, we have had a number of conversations with Jay Monahan and his team … and together we determined that in the best interest of the Memorial Tournament, the Tour and its players, we would return to our traditional date and start Tournament week on the Memorial Day holiday.”
The 2024 Memorial was won by Scottie Scheffler, who finished one stroke ahead of his Ryder Cup teammate Collin Morikawa.
It represented his fifth PGA Tour win of the calendar year.
A week later, Scheffler finished the US Open on eight-over par.
The 2024 Memorial was also particularly poignant for Nicklaus.
He jumped on the CBS broadcast before the tournament concluded to announce that his wife Barbara will be the honoree at 50th playing of the Memorial.
Nicklaus broke down in tears.