Elite field for host Jack Nicklaus' 50th edition of the Memorial

The Memorial Tournament is a bit younger than some other PGA Tour stops, but it's produced plenty of elite champions, from Tom Watson and Greg Norman to Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler -- and tournament host Jack Nicklaus himself.

A collection of the best golfers in the world will help Nicklaus celebrate the 50th edition of the Memorial this week at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

The $20 million signature event is back on Nicklaus' preferred week of the golfing calendar, directly following Memorial Day Weekend. After Friday's second round, the 72-man field will be cut down to the top 50 and ties (plus anyone within 10 shots of the lead), one of only three signature events to have a cut.

The most notable name not in Ohio this week is Rory McIlroy, as the Northern Irishman preferred to play next week's RBC Canadian Open as his U.S. Open tune-up. That aside, the prestige of "Jack's tournament" is a big draw for the world's best.

"I remember watching this tournament growing up in Norway, and I didn't watch that many tournaments on TV," said Viktor Hovland, who won in 2023. "But I knew that, OK, this week is the Memorial Tournament and a list of great champions have won this event, including watching Tiger win multiple times when I was younger and, obviously, just seeing everyone shake Mr. Nicklaus' hand after winning on the 18th green.

"Like, it's pretty special. It's just such a unique golf course, such a cool place."

As with many PGA Tour events this year, the defending champion is Scottie Scheffler. The World No. 1 scooped up a one-shot win over Collin Morikawa amid his torrid 2024 season.

"People ask, I feel like a lot, ‘What's it like defending this week?' I'm like, ‘Well, what does that do for me? Nothing,'" Scheffler said. "I have some experience on the golf course that can be helpful, but at the end of the day, you start even par, and I want to be in contention on Sunday, and you definitely don't show up too high or too low."

Other past champions in the field include Patrick Cantlay (2019, 2021), Hideki Matsuyama of Japan (2014) and Englishman Justin Rose (2010). Matt Kuchar (2013 champion) was given a sponsor exemption along with Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth.

They will take on a par-72, 7,569-yard course that has limited the winning score to single digits under par for the past two years, and three of the past five.

With the third major of the year on the horizon, players like Xander Schauffele are trying to round their game into peak form. Schauffele has yet to finish top-five this season after capturing two majors last year.

"You have to play really well. If you're playing really well, I think U.S. Opens are a tricky task because it can make you feel like you're not playing well and that's where that mental part comes in," Schauffele said.