Jack Nicklaus not exactly over the moon about PGA Tour’s Memorial request

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has revealed that the PGA Tour requested a scheduling change for his Memorial Tournament, moving it from its traditional end-of-May slot to the first week of June. While Nicklaus agreed to accommodate the Tour’s request, he expressed reservations about the new timing, which places the tournament a week before the US Open.

Nicklaus, 84, explained that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan approached him to shift the Memorial Tournament from its regular spot to early June. The Memorial Tournament, founded by Nicklaus in 1976, has traditionally coincided with Memorial Day, which this year was on Monday, May 27. Memorial Day, originally established during the Civil War, honors those who have died in military service for the United States.

Monahan needed the date change because “they had a thing they wanted to do,” Nicklaus recounted. Despite his willingness to help the Tour, Nicklaus was concerned about the new schedule because he would “rarely” play in a PGA Tour event the week before a major championship. The 2024 US Open is set to take place at Pinehurst No.2 next week.

Further discussions with the PGA Tour about the scheduling of next year’s Memorial Tournament are anticipated. Despite the timing change, top PGA Tour players like Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy have committed to this week’s Memorial Tournament, which features a heightened $20 million prize purse as one of the season’s eight signature events. The winner will receive $4 million.

Bob MacIntyre, last week’s PGA Tour winner, opted out of the Memorial Tournament after playing six consecutive weeks on the circuit. His decision sparked debate on social media, with some criticizing his withdrawal as a “betrayal of lack of ambition.” MacIntyre, however, defended his choice, expressing a desire to “party hard” with his girlfriend back home in Scotland.

During his press conference, Nicklaus shared anecdotes about a young Rory McIlroy and discussed how marriage impacted Tiger Woods’ career.

In response to questions about the schedule change, Nicklaus emphasized his preference for the Memorial Tournament to remain in its traditional slot. He highlighted the importance of the Memorial Day association and noted that the tournament usually draws large crowds on Memorial Day. However, he acknowledged the need to balance the tournament’s interests with the Tour’s needs.

“We want to support what’s best for the TOUR and the Memorial Tournament,” Nicklaus said. “That is to be determined.”