Jack Nicklaus Faces Heat, Jon Rahm’s Bizarre WD & More: Top Memorial Tournament Controversies, Ranked

It is time for the second last PGA Tour signature event in Dublin, Ohio! After an incredible maiden victory by Robert MacIntyre in Ontario, Canada, the PGA Tour will move to the Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Village Golf Club for the 2024 Memorial Tournament by Workday. It is the event preceding the U.S. Open, so almost all of the highly-ranked players would be on the field.

From recent winner Bob Mac to World #1 Scottie Scheffler, the Memorial Tournament would be a treat for the fans like it always has been. But before it starts, take a walk down memory lane for some of the controversial moments that left the golf world talking!

Asterisk on Jon Rahm’s 2020 Memorial Tournament victory 

The Spaniard would no longer be on the Memorial Tournament’s field, but his 2020 victory will always be remembered. First, it moved him to the World’s Number one ranking, but also because of a mishap that left a bittersweet feeling after he chipped one of the best shots of his life. Jon Rahm had a three-stroke lead as he reached the 16th-hole tee.

After his first drive, the ball was in the thick rough, and Rahm, with precision, made the chip and a subsequent birdie. Right after his shot, videos started circulating showing that when he placed the wedge, the ball moved ever so slightly. Right after his celebration, Rahm looked confused when he was asked if the ball moved.

A few moments later, the Spaniard watched the clip and accepted that it was indeed a valid penalty and the ball did move. He was given a 2-stroke penalty by Slugger White, the PGA Tour’s VP of Rules and Competition, per Rule 9.4.

All was well since the penalty didn’t change the outcome of the event, or else Rahm would have had only 10 PGA Tour victories to his name.

Matt Kuchar denied a free drop after a long debate

Matt Kuchar took the opinions of two different PGA Tour officials but was still denied the free drop. In the 2019 Memorial Tournament, Kuchar was playing the 17th hole in the opening round. After his drive shot, the ball nestled into a pitch mark, which Robby Ware and Kuchar both agreed was not made by his ball.

But Kuchar argued that his ball made a secondary pitch mark, though the official Ware didn’t agree. The pro called another official, Stephen Cox. He also sided with Ware and sternly told Kuchar to continue the play. Under the current rule, the pros can get a free drop for a pitch mark made by their ball but not for an already-made one.

The 9-time PGA Tour winner expressed that he couldn’t believe it and that it was confusing. Mark ended up par-putting that hole and moving on to the rest of the holes.

Jon Rahm’s forced withdrawal from the 2021 Memorial Tournament

Jon Rahm entered Muirfield Village as the defending champion and was leading the Memorial Tournament by six strokes after the moving day concluded. However, right after he walked off the 18th green, PGA Tour medical personnel informed him that his COVID-19 result was positive. Unfortunately, Rahm was forced to withdraw from the event and lose the chance to become a two-time Memorial Tournament winner.

He later released a statement and said, “This is one of those things that happens in life, one of those moments where how we respond to a setback defines us as people.” Eventually, the winner of the 2021 Memorial Tournament was Patrick Cantlay, who was leading after Rahm’s withdrawal.

Hideki Matsuyama faces his first-ever PGA Tour disqualification

In his decade-long career on the PGA Tour, Hideki Matsuyama had been disqualified from an event only once, which was not entirely his fault. It was the 2022 Memorial Tournament, and the Japanese pro was playing the 10th hole. A PGA Tour official had already taken a picture of his 3-wood at the 5th hole to consult over discrepancies.

Unfortunately, a team member of Matsuyama had painted the face of the club with white paint. This broke Rule 4a(3), that the paint could affect the spin, speed, and overall performance of the ball. Subsequently, Matsuyama paid for the unintentional mistake and was disqualified after playing the front nine.

Jack Nicklaus under fire for change in Muirfield Village

Shots were fired after Jack Nicklaus revamped the 16th hole at the Muirfield Village GC before the 2023 Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. The par-3 16th hole has always been a hard hole to play; in 2022, it was the sixth hardest and, in the tournament’s history, the third hardest hole to conquer. In 2023 too, players struggled massively; through day one, 38 bogeys were made while only eight birdies were carded.

Ultimately, the players opined about their disagreements with the 220-yard increased length of the 16th hole. Jason Day called it a “stupid hole,” whereas Jordan Spieth frustratingly said, “16’s just not a great hole in pretty much everyone’s opinion that’s playing today.” Although Nicklaus was trying to say that the green shouldn’t run away from the golfers, it ended up doing just that.

The players were frustrated, and so the Golden Bear took in the feedback. He asked Jordan Spieth what was lacking in the hole and promised that before the 2024 Memorial, the hole would be less overpowering for the pros. The hole now plays only 200 yards and may not be a “stupid hole” anymore.

Only three days remain until the 2024 Memorial Tournament. What unforgettable moments will this year create? One can only guess!