Memorial Tournament
29 May 2003 - 01 Jun 2003Dublin, Ohio
The course, Muirfield Village Golf Course, in Colombus, Ohio, has undergone a few changes since last year. The seventeenth hole has been elongated an extra 45 yards, with new cross bunkers which have been strategically placed to make this hole more difficult. We played a practice round yesterday (Tuesday) and used a 4 iron in for the second shot where we would have typically used a 6 iron.
All of the greens have been redone with a different type of grass, and some of the slopes have been softened to their original design. I think this subtle change will lower the scores compared to other years, as there is not as much of a slope so the greens have slowed down.
I think a lot of putts will be made this week.
We played in the proam today, a first for the Memorial Tournament. In the past Jack has treated his tournament much like a major, but this year a pro am was introduced with a great group of guys, and it went very well.
The course is in great shape. It rained on Tuesday night, but the course isn’t soaked like it usually is at this time of year. It has been closed for the last 8 months, so there are hardly any divot marks anywhere.
I think the course will become more challenging on the back nine. Hole 12 is a shorter par 3 at 166 yards, but a challenging one, as you need to clear the water to get to a narrow green. The wind seems to swirl a lot on this hole and with all of the trees around, it can make club selection very difficult.
Hole 15 is a great par 5 at 503 yards in length. The heavily tree-lined fairways make it important to hit the fairway to get home in two. It is a tough, small green, but birdie is very make able if played well. The 16th, is a 215 yard, great par 3. Usually a 4 or 5 iron in, there is a huge bunker guarding the front of the green that forces you to take enough club to get it there, but also forces the back of the green into play.
The new 17th hole is now much more difficult than in previous years, which will add to an exciting finish. At 478 yards, this par 4 with the added length forces you to hit a good drive in order to get your second shot onto the green. There will be bogeys on this hole . The finishing hole 18th is another par 4, at 444 yards. A very demanding final hole, with a dogleg right, and an uphill second shot to a tricky green.
I am looking forward to competing. Mike is playing very well and is ready to get back at it after a little break.
My prediction for the winning score is 18-under par.
Thanks for reading,
Brennan Little
