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May 10, 2011

MAJOR CHAMPION PHIL MICKELSON COMMITS

1998 Memorial Tournament winner Fred Couples returns

Memorial to allow cell phones and mobile devices for 2011 Tournament

Dublin, Ohio (May 10, 2011) – Officials of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance announced today that four-time major championship winner Phil Mickelson will compete in the 36th Memorial Tournament May 30-June 5 at Muirfield Village Golf Club. With this commitment, the Tournament includes eight of the current top-10 in FedExCup points and eight out of the top-10 on the current PGA TOUR money list.

On the strength of four top-10 finishes in 10 events, including his 39th career PGA TOUR victory last month at the Shell Houston Open, Mickelson is No. 4 in the world rankings and FedExCup points and is No. 5 on the World and PGA TOUR money lists with more than $2.3 million. Mickelson has won four major championships, the 2004, ’06 and ‘10 Masters and the ’05 PGA Championship. He has finished in the top-10 on the PGA TOUR money list 10 of the past 11 seasons, earning a career-high $5,819,988 in 2007. Since turning professional in 1992, Mickelson, 40, has had only three seasons without a PGA TOUR victory. His 2011 Shell Houston Open title marked his eighth consecutive year with at least one TOUR win, the longest such streak of his career. He has been a member of eight U.S. Ryder Cup teams (1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010) and eight President Cup teams (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009).

Mickelson has posted three top-10 finishes in 11 appearances at the Memorial with five top-20 finishes in his last six visits (including a WD in 2007 due to a wrist injury). His 71.45 scoring average and more than $719,000 in earnings ranks him No. 21 in Tournament history in both categories. His best finish at Muirfield Village came in 2006 when he tied for fourth with Brandt Jobe and Adam Scott. Mickelson’s best scoring performance at the Memorial came last year with an 11-under-par 277 aggregate total, good for a share of fifth place.

In additional player news, fan favorite and 1998 Memorial Tournament winner Fred Couples, who now competes primarily on the Champions Tour, will return to Dublin to compete in the Memorial after a two-year absence. Couples, the current U.S. Presidents Cup captain, ranks No. 5 all-time in Memorial Tournament earnings with more than $1.8 million. He has posted six top-10 finishes in 19 appearances at Muirfield Village, with back-to-back runner up finishes in 2004 and 2005 to go with his 1998 victory. Couples’ scoring average is 71.72 with his lowest round coming in 1987’s final round with an 8-under-par 64.

After winning 15 times on the PGA TOUR, including the 1992 Masters Tournament, Couples, 51, made his Champions Tour debut in January of 2010 with a second-place finish at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. He then proceeded to win three events in a row: The ACE Group Classic, Toshiba Classic and The Cap Cana Championship. He has four Champions Tour titles in all. The 31-year veteran has been a member of five U.S. Ryder Cup teams (1989, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997) and six Presidents Cup teams (1994, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2009 and 2011), the latter two as captain.

In other Tournament news, cell phones and mobile devices will be permitted on the property for 2011 in accordance with new PGA TOUR regulations announced in February. The use of cell phones and mobile devices during the Memorial Tournament is restricted to designated areas and not allowed on the playing field (tees, fairways and greens), practice areas or players' scoring area. Patrons must keep cell phones in the “silent” mode at all times. Photo and video use of all mobile devices is prohibited beginning Thursday and capturing video is not permitted at any time. Violators will have their phones confiscated; they can be retrieved at the close of play at Lost and Found within the Clubhouse.

All-week Patron Badges to the 2011 Memorial Tournament are available to the general public. The badges, valid May 30 – June 5, cost $155 and include a complimentary Wednesday Practice Round ticket. As always, kids 12 and under can attend for free and kids 18 and under are admitted free on Wednesday for Junior Golf Day. The public may call the Tournament Ticket Office 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 877-MT BADGE or visit www.thememorialtournament.com to purchase badges. Daily tickets for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday practice rounds are also available. The cost is $30, and they are valid for all three practice-round days.