Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy tee off on Friday in the opening round of Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial tournament at Muirfield.
It doesn’t get any better than that – the three best golfers in the world playing in the best golfer ever’s own tournament.
The timing is spot on as well, with Day, Spieth,and McIlroy winning their last tournaments – Day took out The Players Championship, the unofficial fifth major, Spieth the Dean and Deluca Invitational yesterday, and McIlroy the Irish Open last week.
And all three were overdue wishes. Day has always wanted to win The Players, Texan Spieth has at last won in his home state after three seconds, and McIlroy’s frustrating three previous seconds in his home Irish Open have been wiped out.
These guys are good.
Day was in command on all four days to win wire to wire, Spieth was tied for the lead with Harris English until Spieth sunk a curling 25-foot birdie putt on 16, sunk a 40-foot chip to birdie 17, and a 35-foot birdie putt on 18 to win by three shots, while Mcilroy birdied 16 and eagled 18 to win by a shot.
To put the icing on the cake,the US Open at Oakmont is only a fortnight away,so the big three will be seeking the high ground this week.
Which questions why Henrik Stenson (6), Adam Scott (7), and Masters champion Danny Willett (9) are missing this week among the world’s top 10?
The other four will be on duty – Bubba Watson (4), Rickie Fowler (5), Dustin Johnson (8), and Justin Rose (10) will be there, adding to the fire power on duty.
The field certainly has the look of a major with Patrick Reed (12), Hideki Matsuyama (15), Matt Kuchar (18), and ageless Phil Mickelson (19) from among the top 20.
Other genuine contenders – Americans Bill Haas, Justin Thomas, JB Holmes, and newcomer Kyle Reifers, South African Charl Schwartzel, the fast improving Scot Russell Knox, and three Englishman Paul Casey, Luke Donald, and Ian Poulter who are long overdue for a win.
The Australians on duty, apart from Jason Day – John Senden, Marc Leishman, Geoff Ogilvy, Matt Jones, Steve Bowditch, Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, and Ryan Ruffles.
Surprisingly there are only 120 in the field, but it’s a hot one at that.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Stenson is playing this week david.
pete bloor
Guest
Hey I've been told by David that he has forgotten more about sport than we could ever know... unfortunately what he remembers would struggle to be enough to win a trivia comp at a preschool
pete bloor
Guest
I think he's played as many masters as you...
Chop
Roar Guru
David, I think Lancey has a point, elite golfers have a process they like to follow, some like to practice, some like to compete. I'd like to see the best playing every week but that just doesn't happen. Given they're in the top 10 they obviously know what they're doing and plan their schedule accordingly. While Jack's tournament might be a great tournament style preparation for players, it might not be what the players think is best in their run up to a major given how close the British Open and Olympics follow the US Open. Different strokes for different folks, We'll only find out if they've missed out by not playing once that run is finished....
no one in particular
Roar Guru
I interviewed Nicole Kidman. It doesn't make me Bill Collins
Lancey5times
Guest
David, I don't feel you should assume to understand the best preparation for these guys is playing. It may be that they feel the constant grind of playing is what is contributing to their lack of form (although Scott has had two top 20's in his last 3 starts so I wouldn't call him too out of form). From your time spent walking around a course I'm sure at times not playing did your game some good. It certainly helped me at times (I too am a single figure marker but am yet to interview anyone famous).
David Lord
Expert
What an ignorant post L5T, Henrik Stenson and Adam Scott have been way below form of late, while Danny Willett finished third last week in the PGA Championship at Wentworth and is having the week off. The Memorial will be an ideal test of how any golfers preparation is for a major, so it's difficult to understand why any top golfer would pass up the chance. As for entertaining me, that's just about the dumbest post ever on this site. How little do I know about the game? I was a single figure golfer, have written or spoken about golf on air for 51 years, and interviewed Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd, Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Greg Norman, and Adam Scott to name just a few Look forward to reading your golf history.
Lancey5times
Guest
David, How well placed are you to question the preparation of the worlds best golfers leading into a major? Every player has a process that works for them and no one can play every week throughout a season. It's brutal. To say that Scott, Stenson and Willet are missing an opportunity for some sort of psychological 'high ground' by not playing this week shows how little you know about the game. The mental battle is within champ and the best golfers know that a good week doesn't involve beating the guys ranked one, two or three. There is a whole field and a golf course as well. The responsibility these players have is not to simply entertain you. They have a plan to get the best out of their game. Expert? Really? Still?