PGA Tour make unsurprising announcement after Jack Nicklaus moan

The PGA Tour has announced that the Memorial Tournament, hosted by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, will return to its traditional dates in 2025. This decision comes after the 2024 tournament, held from June 6-9 at Muirfield Village in Columbus, Ohio, was scheduled two weeks after Memorial Day and just a week before the U.S. Open, the third major championship of the year.

Nicklaus, who has long been the face of the Memorial Tournament, expressed his dissatisfaction with the 2024 scheduling during a press conference prior to the event. He openly stated, “We would prefer the other week,” and confirmed ongoing discussions with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan regarding the date change. Nicklaus highlighted that the shift in dates was originally done as a favor to the Tour but was not ideal from his perspective. “I would rarely play a week before a major championship,” he noted, adding, “So I’m asked to be putting on a golf tournament that I would never play, and that is the essential [issue] from my standpoint.”

In a statement released on June 17, Nicklaus expressed his gratitude for the collaborative relationship between the Memorial Tournament and the PGA Tour, characterizing it as more of a partnership. He remarked, “The Tour has acted in the best interest of the Memorial Tournament, and we, in turn, have always supported the Tour and its initiatives. That is why a year ago when the Tour presented us its new business model, we were willing to work with them and move the 2024 date to a week before the U.S. Open.” He added that after multiple conversations with Monahan and his team, it was decided that returning to the traditional Memorial Day weekend start was in the best interest of all parties involved.

The 2024 Memorial Tournament concluded with a dramatic victory by Scottie Scheffler, who edged out his Ryder Cup teammate, Collin Morikawa, by one stroke. This win marked Scheffler’s fifth PGA Tour victory of the year. However, just a week later, he struggled at the U.S. Open, finishing eight-over par.

The 2024 tournament was particularly significant for Nicklaus as he made an emotional announcement on the CBS broadcast before the tournament concluded. He revealed that his wife, Barbara Nicklaus, would be the honoree at the 50th playing of the Memorial. Overcome with emotion, Nicklaus shed tears as he shared the news, marking a poignant moment in the tournament’s history.

The return to the traditional dates for the Memorial Tournament underscores the importance of the event within the PGA Tour calendar and highlights Nicklaus’ commitment to maintaining the prestige and legacy of the tournament he has so passionately nurtured.