2023 The Memorial Tournament
Muirfield Village Golf Club
Hello, DFSArmy, it’s your boy DFSUpNorth, Josh Thomas, back with another course preview for one of the most cherished events on the PGA Tour: the Memorial Tournament. This week, we head to Dublin, Ohio for a tour stop that is as prestigious as it is challenging. Jack’s course has hosted this event since 1976 and is one of only 5 events on the PGA Tour that is “invite only” Let’s dive into the details.
The Course:
The Memorial Tournament is played at Muirfield Village Golf Club, a par-72 Jack Nicklaus design that stretches 7,571 yards. Nicklaus, an Ohio native, frequently tweaks and enhances the course to keep it relevant and challenging for today’s pros. In 2020, immediately after the tournament, the course underwent significant renovations that included the redesign of every green, several fairways, and the addition of a new par-3 5th hole.
The greens at Muirfield are bentgrass and run faster than average on the stimpmeter, with speeds around 13, presenting a significant test for players’ putting prowess.
The course underwent a redesign in 2020 that resulted in some changes to the hole lengths and layout, so the specifics may vary a bit, but here’s a rough breakdown:
Par-3s:
- Hole 4: 200 yards
- Hole 8: 185 yards
- Hole 12: 184 yards
- Hole 16: 220 yards
Par-4s:
- Hole 1: 470 yards
- Hole 2: 455 yards
- Hole 6: 447 yards
- Hole 9: 412 yards
- Hole 10: 471 yards
- Hole 13: 455 yards
- Hole 14: 363 yards
- Hole 17: 503 yards
- Hole 18: 484 yards
Par-5s:
- Hole 5: 527 yards
- Hole 7: 563 yards
- Hole 11: 567 yards
- Hole 15: 529 yards
This layout and the variety in hole lengths put a premium on strategic shot-making and course management, and it allows golfers with different styles of play to succeed. Muirfield Village rewards accuracy off the tee, precision on approach shots, and deft touch on and around the greens.
Historical Design
Jack Nicklaus’s original design of Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio is a testament to his knowledge and understanding of the game, from his high-level playing career and beyond. The course was established in 1974, and the design reflects Nicklaus’s belief in challenging but fair golf.
Design Philosophy: Nicklaus’s design philosophy at Muirfield Village was to create a strategic course that tests all aspects of a golfer’s game. The course rewards shot-making, decision-making, and course management skills. Each hole offers a variety of routes to the green and rewards players who can strategically place their shots.
Course Layout: The course is characterized by its balanced layout, with two par-5s and two par-3s on each nine, and the rest being par-4s. This balance puts a premium on a player’s ability to excel with every club in the bag, not just the driver or putter.
Natural Setting: Nicklaus utilized the natural landscape of the area, weaving the course through the rolling terrain and incorporating natural hazards, such as creeks and ponds. The course is also well known for its lush, tree-lined fairways.
Fast Greens: Muirfield Village is renowned for its fast, undulating greens that challenge even the best putters. The greens, often protected by strategically placed bunkers or water hazards, require precision on approach shots and a delicate touch with the putter.
Constant Evolution: One of the hallmarks of Nicklaus’s design of Muirfield Village is its adaptability. Nicklaus has made numerous changes to the course over the years to ensure it remains a test for today’s professionals, who hit the ball much further than players did when the course was first designed.
Muirfield Village is a living testament to Nicklaus’s love for golf and his understanding of what makes a golf course challenging, engaging, and enjoyable. It’s not just a golf course, but a reflection of one of the game’s greatest players and his vision for how the game should be played.
Tournament Set-up:
Muirfield Village Golf Club
Par: 36-36—72
Yardage: 7,571
Stimpmeter: 12-13
Average Green Size: 5,000 sq. ft.
Acres of Fairway: 24
Acres of Rough: 110
Number of Sand Bunkers: 68
Number of Water Hazards: 13
Number of Holes Water is in Play: 13
Greens: Bentgrass .090”
Collars: Bentgrass .275”
Approaches: Bentgrass .275”
Tees: Bentgrass .275”
Fairways: Bentgrass .350”
Rough: Kentucky bluegrass / rye / fescue 4”
At Muirfield Village, water hazards come into play on 13 of the 18 holes. These water hazards vary from small creeks and ponds to larger lakes, and they can significantly influence strategy and shot selection throughout the course.
Notable holes with water hazards include:
- The par-5 5th hole, which features a creek that cuts across the fairway and guards the front of the green.
- The par-4 9th hole, where a pond to the left of the green can catch any errant approach shots.
- The par-3 12th hole, which has a large lake guarding the front and right of the green.
- The par-4 14th hole, which features a creek that snakes its way along the entire right side of the hole.
The presence of these water hazards adds to the challenge of Muirfield Village, requiring precision and smart course management from the players. Any mistake can quickly lead to a bogey or worse, which emphasizes the importance of accuracy and risk management at this course.
Links to DFS Army Tools
- PGA Research Station – Every single stat you could want for this week’s event!
- PGA Cheatsheets – Notes on all the viable players in the field
- PGA Domination Station – One-click Optimized Lineups in Seconds
Important Statistics
At Muirfield Village, specific statistics stand out as crucial to success:
Strokes Gained: Approach: This course rewards ball strikers, so look for players who perform well in strokes gained: approach. In fact, in the past five years, four winners of the Memorial Tournament have been in the top 10 for the week in strokes gained: approach.
Strokes Gained: Tee to Green: Given the importance of striking at Muirfield, the SG: Tee to Green statistic is also crucial. Over the past five years, three winners of the Memorial Tournament have been in the top 5 in this stat.
Strokes Gained: Putting: With the fast greens, players will need a hot putter to stay in contention. Pay attention to strokes gained: putting as a key stat, although keep in mind that putting can be quite variable and it’s not as predictable as ball striking stats.
Par 4 Scoring: There are four Par 3s, four Par 5s, and ten Par 4s at Muirfield. A focus on solid par 4 scoring can be an important edge.
These key stats can serve as a starting point for evaluating a golfer’s potential success at Muirfield Village. When building DFS lineups or making predictions, consider each player’s current form, tournament history, and how their skill set aligns with these crucial areas.
Golfers with Historical Success at Muirfield Village
Strokes Gained Total based on last 5 tournaments here:
Patrick Cantlay: 63.91 SGT (Two wins)
Si Woo Kim: 29.91 SGT
Xander Schauffele: 26.47 SGT
Jon Rahm: 26.11 SGT (only two events, and he should have won the one he was forced to WD from)
Jordan Spieth: 25.46 SGT
Golfers coming in 🔥🔥🔥
Strokes Gained Total based on last 5 tournaments:
Scottie Scheffler: 46.41 SGT
Tyrrell Hatton: 38.45 SGT
Emiliano Grillo: 35.75 SGT
Xander Schauffele: 34.81 SGT
Patrick Cantlay: 29.94 SGT
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Weather:
I’m not even posting a picture this week. The weather looks PERFECT all week. Maybe a little wind on Saturday afternoon but it looks great.
Final Thoughts:
The 2023 Memorial Touranament at Muirfield Village Golf Club is shaping up to be a thrilling and rigorous tournament. By understanding the course’s unique characteristics and tailoring our DFS strategy accordingly, we can put ourselves in a prime position to succeed. I will break it all down for our VIPs with my weekly PGA Cheatsheets! This is DFSUpNorth, Josh Thomas, signing off. Best of luck to everyone in their DFS contests this week. Let’s get those green screens!
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