Insider: Victory at Jack's place a must for any career

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It must be a tremendous thrill to have a championship trophy placed in your hands by Jack Nicklaus.

It has happened annually on this week since 1976, when Nicklaus first launched The Memorial Tournament. Each year a man gets the opportunity to shake hands with greatest golfer who has ever lived and accept the tasteful trophy that goes to the winner. Only twice has it failed to happen (1977 and 1984), but only because it is physically impossible for Nicklaus to shake hands with himself.

The Memorial has always been a must-have victory for the potential World Golf Hall of Famer. Tom Watson won it in 1979 and came back for a second helping 17 years later. Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin, Hal Sutton, Curtis Strange, Greg Norman, Paul Azinger, Vijay Singh, Fred Couples, Ernie Els and Jim Furyk, each the holder of a major championship, has won at Muirfield Village. Oh, yeah, Tiger Woods has won there four times, too.

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Winning the Memorial isn't as big a deal as winning a major, although it definitely has the feel of a major championship. That's by design, as Nicklaus patterned much about the course he designed from Augusta National and the way the event is operated by the Masters. But if you ask most any player which event from the regular season they'd most like to win, the Memorial will be at the top of most lists.

Just ask Justin Rose. A year ago he brought a three-stroke lead into the 18th green and was able to enjoy the experience, the setting and the presence of the man who founded the tournament. The fact that he was doing it with Nicklaus watching seemed to overshadow the fact that he was about to win his first PGA TOUR event.

"When I realized I was three ahead, first thing I did was look for Jack, just to sort of re-soak up the fact that I just won his tournament," Rose said. "I think it just elevates it to being a very special tournament."

Rose went on to speak fondly of the post-game press conference with Nicklaus by his side and said, "That was a very special moment."

The field for this week's event is filled with the leaders of the FedExCup points list, as well as the world's top international players. But there are few participants who might need to win the Memorial just a tad more than the next guy. Here are five outstanding players who have a long list of accomplishments, but they haven't yet won Jack's tournament. A win this week for some might be a career changer, for all a definite resume enhancer.

• Phil Mickelson: The four-time major champion has already won Arnold Palmer's tournament at Bay Hill. He's won the HP Byron Nelson Championship. He's even won the Bob Hope Classic. Doesn't he need to win Jack's tournament, too? He's come close on a couple of occasions, including last year when he placed fifth. Hey, if Muirfield is so much like Augusta, Mickelson should be a natural fit as a winner.

• Stewart Cink: He switched all but two of the clubs in his bag at Hilton Head and has a top-10 and a pair of top-25s in the three tournaments since. Cink hasn't won since his British Open championship in 2009, but plays well on tough courses. He's been among the top 10 at Muirfield Village on six occasions, including a tie for eighth in 2010. Always gracious and well-spoken, Cink would be a great champion.

Donald

• Luke Donald: How good has Donald's season been? He missed the cut at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera, his first tournament in the United States this year, and hasn't finished outside the top 10 since. That includes a win at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play and a runner-up at the Heritage, where he lost in a playoff. He didn't play the Memorial in 2010, but tied for 14th in 2009 and tied for sixth in 2008.

• Steve Stricker: Here's a man who lives up to the Nicklaus model for consistency. Although he hasn't won this season, Stricker has three top-10s and has been outside the top 20 only twice in nine events. His worst showing over his last four events was a tie for 13th. He was 17th at Muirfield last year.

• Matt Kuchar: He snags top-10s like Brooks Robinson snagged line drives at the hot corner. He's already reeled in seven of them in 13 starts ... without missing a cut. He shares another facet with Nicklaus, too. Kuchar, like The Golden Bear, was a U.S. Amateur champion. Kuchar likes the course and tied for eighth there in 2010.

Will it be another first-timer like Rose or a veteran looking to add to the resume? Regardless of who wins, the accomplishment will be something they can always relish and that handshake and slap on the back from the greatest of all time will be unforgettable.

Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.