Nicklaus’ event pure gold
Legend’s presence makes Memorial must-play tourney
William McGirt was in the locker room at Muirfield Village Golf Club after last year’s first round of the Memorial when he walked over and introduced himself to Jack Nicklaus.
“Oh, OK. How did it go today?” Nicklaus asked.
“I shot 2 under the first round,” McGirt answered.
“Well, you didn’t hurt yourself.”
Three days later the conversation lasted a tad longer when McGirt shook Nicklaus’ hand on the green of the 18th hole and received the championship hardware, his first PGA Tour title in hand.
“To win Mr. Nicklaus’ tournament is kind of like winning a green jacket,” McGirt said. “It’s something you dream about your whole life, to walk off 18 and get to shake his hand. It’s a pretty special moment.”
The Memorial has a lot of drawing cards that lure the game’s best players to Ohio each year.
A strong field (nine of the top 15 players in the world are here, including No. 1 Dustin Johnson). The immaculate, stout Muirfield Village course. The milkshakes served in the locker room.
“The milkshakes are 100% the best in the world,” Justin Thomas said.
Then there is Nicklaus, the common man who did uncommon things on the golf course. The winner of 73 Tour titles and a record 18 major championships also is one of the best golf course architects who has lived. His charitable arm is colossal. And the Golden Bear has had the golden touch as the founder and host of the Memorial for more than 40 years.
“It’s a fantastic tournament, one of our favorites,” two-time major champion Jordan Spieth said. “The hospitality is second to none, and the golf course is right up there with the best in the country in my opinion. ...
“To have the greatest major champion of all time as your host and you’re at his place, you know the course is going to be tough, but you also know it’s going to be a great week. The guys really embrace having Jack around. He’s a great guy to have around you. He’s always wondering what you’re working on.
“He’s been a really, really cool guy to get to know, role model to get to know, over the last four years or so. So it’s really nice being here with him.”
Kevin Kisner, who won last weekend’s Dean & DeLuca at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, said Nicklaus, 77, is the main reason he puts this event on his schedule.
“You know you’ve accomplished something when you’re here,” Kisner said. “The field is fantastic. (Nicklaus) knows how to take care of his players. Everybody here takes care of us great. Anything you want, they have it for you. That’s the type of stuff that we love. ...
“I love how much Mr. Nicklaus interacts with us. He rides around in his cart talking to us on the range, on the course, in player dining. He’s around all week, and he’s accessible. I think that’s the coolest part.
“As soon as I got here, he was sitting in the cart right by the val- et. He likes interacting with the players and seeing what the young guys are doing. I think he likes that part of it.”
When McGirt arrived here this year, he was with his 4-year-old son, Mac, who was with his dad when Nicklaus gave him the trophy last year. As they walked through the locker room, they bumped into Nicklaus.
“And he said, ‘Hey, welcome back,’ and stuck his hand out for Mac to give him a high-five. It’s really neat to have those experiences,” McGirt said. “He puts so much time and effort into making this place his own Augusta National, and to come back here as defending champion, it’s honestly a dream come true.”