PGA Tour pro Michael Kim has revealed a fascinating story involving Jack Nicklaus and a high-profile player, ahead of the 2024 Memorial Tournament. According to Kim, one of the top players on the tour once threatened Nicklaus that he would never play the Memorial Tournament again after a controversial decision to use wooden rakes in the bunkers at Muirfield Village.
The incident traces back to a time when Nicklaus was commentating and witnessed Jim Furyk make a remarkable up-and-down on the 15th hole. Nicklaus, known for his high standards and keen eye, was taken aback by Furyk’s seemingly impossible shot, which led him to introduce wooden rakes with “super wide teeth marks” in the bunkers the following year. This method, known as ‘furrowing,’ resulted in golf balls either being perfectly teed up or half-plugged in the bunkers.
The players, unsurprisingly, were not pleased with the change. Kim recounted that one prominent player confronted Nicklaus, expressing his frustration and vowing never to return to the Memorial if the wooden rakes were used again. The unnamed player, emphasizing his dedication, told Nicklaus, “I spent 20 years perfecting a technique to beat these guys in the bunker, and you took that away from me.”
Kim shared this anecdote on X, just a day before the 2024 Memorial Tournament was set to begin, noting that the player in question was not Tiger Woods. The story adds to the lore of the Memorial Tournament and Nicklaus’ storied career both as a player and a course designer.
This week, as Nicklaus, now 84, returned to the Memorial, he shared more memorable tales during his annual news conference. When asked for his best piece of advice by an aspiring golfer, he narrated a story about a young Rory McIlroy and also discussed how marriage impacted Tiger Woods’ career.
Nicklaus’ reflections and the players’ anecdotes contribute to the rich history and ongoing intrigue surrounding the Memorial Tournament, highlighting the deep connections and intense emotions that characterize the world of professional golf.