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Power Rankings: the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide
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May 30, 2016
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM
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Jordan Spieth returns to Muirfield Village in top form after his victory at Colonial. (Ralph Lauer/Getty Images)
Rarely does a year go by when Muirfield Village Golf Club doesn’t undergo noticeable and influential changes in preparation for its annual duty as host of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. It’s still the par 72 measuring 7,392 yards that we knew last year. However, this hasn’t been just any ol’ 12-month cycle in Dublin, Ohio.
It was announced in December that the existing partnership was extended six years through 2021. The winner of the tournament will continue to receive a three-year PGA TOUR exemption, while the total prize money has ballooned to $8.5 million. (It was $6.2 million in 2015.) It will increase by $200,000 in every edition throughout the term of the agreement. This week’s champion will earn $1.53 million.
When you think of scorable tracks on the PGA TOUR, Muirfield Village probably doesn’t crack your consciousness, but only the trio of host courses of the CareerBuilder Challenge in both 2014 and 2015 yielded a greater percentage of birdies or better when hitting greens in regulation. At 34.84 percent, Muirfield Village ranked fourth-highest. The rub is that it was 18th-hardest to total scoring opportunities last year at 63.49 percent (or 11.4 GIR per round), and that was a five-year high. Overall, the field averaged 71.738, which is an eight-year low.
The bentgrass greens average only 5,000 square feet, so with ample room off most tees and terrific looks to break par, proximity to the hole is at a premium. Furthermore, despite a deep, 120-man field, truly no one can be ruled out to contend since distance is usually manifested only when combined with accuracy on approach. This helps explain why Hideki Matsuyama (2014) and David Lingmerth (2015) emerged with their first TOUR titles in this invitational on this golf course.
Mother Nature may play a role early and late as rain and potentially thunderstorms are forecast on Thursday and Sunday. Winds may freshen by the time the finale rolls around. Seasonable temperatures will climb into the high 70s.
POWER RANKINGS: the Memorial Tournament
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 1 
Jordan Spieth Fresh off convincing victory in his home state of Texas. Tops on TOUR in adjusted scoring and birdies-or-better percentage. Closing 65 a field low en route to T3 here last year.
2 
Hideki Matsuyama Tied for fifth in his title defense last year. Actual scoring average in eight rounds here is 68.875. No worse than T11 in last four stroke-play starts.
Tied for fifth in his title defense last year. Actual scoring average in eight rounds here is 68.875. No worse than T11 in last four stroke-play starts.
3 
Rory McIlroy Took a week off after winning Irish Open. It fulfilled six months of numerous teases. Leads TOUR in par-5 scoring; third in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Three top 15s here.
Took a week off after winning Irish Open. It fulfilled six months of numerous teases. Leads TOUR in par-5 scoring; third in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Three top 15s here.
4 
Jason Day Something will give. Muirfield Village member has fared no better than T27 in seven tries here, but he has seven wins in last 10 months, including in last start (THE PLAYERS).
Something will give. Muirfield Village member has fared no better than T27 in seven tries here, but he has seven wins in last 10 months, including in last start (THE PLAYERS).
5 
Matt Kuchar Strolls in with simmering form since THE PLAYERS: T3-3rd-T6. Winner here in 2013; seven top 15s at Muirfield Village since 2007. Third in adjusted scoring.
Strolls in with simmering form since THE PLAYERS: T3-3rd-T6. Winner here in 2013; seven top 15s at Muirfield Village since 2007. Third in adjusted scoring.
6 
Bubba Watson Quiet since runner-up at Doral, but T8 in China in April. Second on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Solo third in last visit (2014) his only top 20 in nine attempts.
Quiet since runner-up at Doral, but T8 in China in April. Second on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Solo third in last visit (2014) his only top 20 in nine attempts.
7 
Patrick Reed T15 at Colonial was his seventh top 15 of 2016. Eighth in the FedExCup standings on the strength of a TOUR-leading eight top 10s. T26 in Memorial debut last year.
T15 at Colonial was his seventh top 15 of 2016. Eighth in the FedExCup standings on the strength of a TOUR-leading eight top 10s. T26 in Memorial debut last year.
8 
Dustin Johnson Top 20s in half of his eight appearances here, including a T13 last year. Top 15s in six of last seven starts this season. Slots second in birdies-or-better percentage.
Top 20s in half of his eight appearances here, including a T13 last year. Top 15s in six of last seven starts this season. Slots second in birdies-or-better percentage.
9 
Chris Kirk Extended fine form at Colonial with a T15; five top 15s in last eight starts. Pair of top 25s in five appearances at Muirfield Village includes a T4 in 2014.
Extended fine form at Colonial with a T15; five top 15s in last eight starts. Pair of top 25s in five appearances at Muirfield Village includes a T4 in 2014.
10 
Rickie Fowler Love-hate record here was sparked by solo second in 2010, but 0-for-2 since 2014 and no top 35s in last four trips. Ranks second in par-4 scoring, fourth in par-5 scoring.
Love-hate record here was sparked by solo second in 2010, but 0-for-2 since 2014 and no top 35s in last four trips. Ranks second in par-4 scoring, fourth in par-5 scoring.
11 
Daniel Berger Can a PGA TOUR sophomore have a patented hot streak? If so, he’s on one with top 20s in six of his last seven starts. Wayward driving tendency not a problem on this track.
Can a PGA TOUR sophomore have a patented hot streak? If so, he’s on one with top 20s in six of his last seven starts. Wayward driving tendency not a problem on this track.
12 
Bill Haas Since 2013, he’s T4-T8-T18 at Muirfield Village, respectively, despite little to suggest that success upon arrival. Fittingly, he’s gone three starts without a top 40 before this week.
Since 2013, he’s T4-T8-T18 at Muirfield Village, respectively, despite little to suggest that success upon arrival. Fittingly, he’s gone three starts without a top 40 before this week.
13 
Jason Dufner Top 25s in both the last two weeks (T6, DEAN & DELUCA) and the last two editions of the Memorial. Currently 10th in greens in regulation and 15th in adjusted scoring.
Top 25s in both the last two weeks (T6, DEAN & DELUCA) and the last two editions of the Memorial. Currently 10th in greens in regulation and 15th in adjusted scoring.
14 
Justin Thomas Rested since field-low 65 in the finale of THE PLAYERS for a T3. All four of his top 10s this season are top-three finishes. Ranks T13 in par-5 scoring.
Rested since field-low 65 in the finale of THE PLAYERS for a T3. All four of his top 10s this season are top-three finishes. Ranks T13 in par-5 scoring.
15 
Francesco Molinari Tied for third in his debut last year, the week after he placed T51 in Ireland. T55 last week at Wentworth. Shared seventh at TPC Sawgrass two weeks prior.
Tied for third in his debut last year, the week after he placed T51 in Ireland. T55 last week at Wentworth. Shared seventh at TPC Sawgrass two weeks prior.
ROB BOLTON'S WRITING SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.COM's Fantasy Columnist Rob Bolton will be filing his usual staples leading up to this week's event. Look for the following features later this week:
MONDAY: Power Rankings
TUESDAY*: Fantasy Insider, Comfort Zone, Sleepers
WEDNESDAY: One-and-Done
THURSDAY: Most-picked players* = Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM's Expert Picks, which also publishes on Tuesdays.
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Fresh off convincing victory in his home state of Texas. Tops on TOUR in adjusted scoring and birdies-or-better percentage. Closing 65 a field low en route to T3 here last year.