Latest News

April 26, 2018

WORLD NO. 1 DUSTIN JOHNSON COMMITS TO THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY NATIONWIDE

Two-time major champion Bubba Watson and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed strengthen world-class Tournament field

Dublin, Ohio – Officials of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide announced today that World No. 1 Dustin Johnson will compete in the 43^rd edition of the prestigious invitational hosted by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus May 28 – June 3 at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

The Tournament has also accepted entries from two-time major champion Bubba Watson and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed. These latest commitments strengthen the Memorial’s world-class field that already includes commitments from Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and 2017 Memorial winner Jason Dufner, all owners of major titles.

Johnson, 33, is coming off back-to-back multi-win seasons on the PGA TOUR for the first time in his career. He recorded 15 top-10 finishes over 22 starts in 2015-16, including three wins and his first major championship title at the U.S. Open. He also swept the PGA TOUR’s 2016 post-season competition-based awards. Johnson was a first-time recipient of the Jack Nicklaus Award as the PGA TOUR Player of the Year, the Arnold Palmer Award as the TOUR’s leading money-winner with more than $9 million in earnings, and the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average at 69.17. Johnson followed up his career season with a stellar 2016-17 campaign that included four wins, over eight top-10 finishes and more than $8 million in earnings. Since recording his first TOUR victory in 2008 at the Turning Stone Resort Championship, Johnson has posted at least one win each season en route to 17 total PGA TOUR victories and $50,973,595 in career earnings. A resident of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Johnson has continued his inspiring play this season with five top-10 finishes in just eight starts, including a win at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. He has held the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for the past 62 weeks, and currently is No. 5 in this season’s FedExCup rankings. Johnson will be making his 11^th Memorial start, and has career statistics that include earnings of $1,215,201 and a 71.72 scoring average. Johnson missed the cut last year at Muirfield Village Golf Club after rounds of 78-74.

Watson, 39, recorded his first-career PGA TOUR title in 2010 at the Travelers Championship. He has since captured 11 in total, two of which he earned this season at the Genesis Open and World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. Watson has claimed at least one TOUR victory in seven of his past nine seasons, including two Masters titles and four multiple-win campaigns in 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2018. A resident of Windermere, Fla., Watson has competed in 10 TOUR events in the 2017-18 season and recorded four top-10 finishes, bringing his career earnings to $40,322,918 on the PGA TOUR. The two-time U.S. Presidents Cup and three-time U.S. Ryder Cup team member is currently ranked No. 18 in the world and No. 3 in FedExCup points. Watson’s best finish in his 11 previous appearances at the Memorial Tournament is third in 2014. He finished T-6 last year. His scoring average at Muirfield Village Golf Club is 71.70 and his career earnings in the Tournament total $952,073.75.

Newly minted Masters champion, Reed will make his fourth start at the Memorial this May. He recorded a T-57 finish in last year’s Tournament and grabbed his best finish in 2016 with a T-8 effort. His scoring average at Muirfield Village Golf Club is 71.00 and his Tournament earnings equal $311,607. The 27-year-old Texas native has posted four top-10 finishes this season, including his sixth PGA TOUR victory and first major title at The Masters Tournament. He is ranked No. 11 in the world and No. 6 in FedExCup points. Reed went 3-1-1 in his five matches to lead the American team to a 17-11 victory over Europe in his second Ryder Cup appearance in 2016. He and Jordan Spieth were the only Americans to play in all five matches at Hazeltine. Reed went head-to-head with Rory McIlroy in one of the most thrilling matches (particularly on the front nine) in Ryder Cup history, eventually making birdie on No. 18 for a 1-up victory, cementing his stature as one of the game's best match play competitors, and improving his overall Ryder Cup record to 6-1-2. In last year’s Presidents Cup at Liberty National, Reed went 3-1-1 for the victorious U.S. team.

To purchase badges for this year’s edition of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, the public may call the Tournament Ticket Office 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 877-MT BADGE (877-682-2343) or visit www.memorialbadges.com. Kids 18 and under can attend for free with a ticketed adult. Daily practice round tickets for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are also available. The cost is $35 and they are valid for all three practice-round days.

About the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide is held annually at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. The Tournament, founded and hosted by Jack Nicklaus, is conducted each year with three goals in mind: to honor the memory of individuals living and deceased who have distinguished themselves in the game of golf; to showcase the world’s best golfers competing on one of the most challenging venues in the world for the enjoyment of spectators; and to benefit many Greater Columbus Charities in alliance with the Nicklaus Children's Healthcare Foundation, Nationwide Children's Hospital and numerous other local organizations. For more information, visit www.thememorialtournament.com or call 614-889-6700.

About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Media Contact:

Thomas P. Sprouse                                                                                                                      

Director of Communications,                                                                                                                      

the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide                                                                                                                      

E-Mail: tsprouse@thememorialtournament.com                                                                                                     

Office: 614-889-6791                                                                                                                      

Mobile: 614-519-1873                                                                                                                      

# # #