Week 22 Approach Shots: Memorial Tournament

text size

NO. 1 ON THE LINE: Phil Mickelson has never won the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley. But if he does -- and if Tiger Woods doesn't finish in the top four -- then Mickelson will achieve another first by claiming the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking.

"It would be cool," Mickelson said Wednesday.

Woods has been No. 1 for 260 consecutive weeks, but he shrugged when asked about the possibility of Mickelson overtaking him.

TV/Radio (all times ET)

TV: GOLF CHANNEL (Thu.-Fri., 3-6 p.m.); CBS (Sat. 3-6 p.m.; Sun. 1:30-6 p.m.) RADIO: PGA TOUR NETWORK - Sirius 209, XM 146, PGATOUR.COM (Thu.-Sun. 12-6 p.m.)

Key links

• Expert picks | Tee times • Rankings | Fantasy Insider • Inside the Field | Course

Weather

Scattered thunderstorms are expected on Thursday and Saturday. Temperatures in the low 70s, high 80s. Winds will be from 5-10 mph. Updated weather info

"I don't follow it," he said.

Mickelson's first priority, however, is to get his game in shape as the second major of the year, the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, approaches in two weeks. He missed the cut in last week's Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

"Right now, my goal is to play well here and get ready for the Open," Mickelson said.

Mickelsonis is making just his 11th start in this event. He didn't play last year and has just two top-10 finishes at Muirfield Village, including a tie for fourth in 2006.

He said his sporadic starts here is simply a matter of scheduling, and not a reflection of the course.

"I do like the golf course a lot," said the Masters champion, who played with Jack Nicklaus in Wednesday's Skins Game, claiming all nine skins in his fivesome. "This year's been great. It works out perfect. It's right before the Open. I'm not going to play next week. This is my last opportunity to play before the Open.

"I was telling Jack how much it would mean to me personally to be able to win his event, and I'm going to be trying my hardest this week."

Nicklaus couldn't agree more, spinning a famous phrase from Bobby Jones who once said a golfer's resume is not complete until he wins at St. Andrews.

"I told him, 'A golfer's resume is not complete until he wins at Muirfield,'" Nicklaus said with a laugh.

IMMELMAN WITHDRAWS: Trevor Immelman pulled out on Wednesday due to a wrist injury. He was replaced in the field by Jeff Maggert.

Immelman said on his Twitter feed that he was going to New York to see his surgeon. Immelman underwent surgery on his left wrist in October. He's made the cut in six of nine starts this year, with his best finish a tie for 14th at the Masters.

Columnists' predictions

Each week, PGATOUR.COM columnists will predict the winner. Here are their picks for the Memorial Tournament present by Morgan Stanley. Columnist Pick Comment Stan AWTREY K.J. CHOI: He's had success at the Memorial, with a win there in 2007. He's been close several times this spring and is due to break out. It'll probably come on a tough course; Muirfield Village qualifies in that regard. Craig DOLCH K.J. CHOI: He won here three years ago, and as long as he can stay away from writing any snowmen on his scorecard, he will contend again this week. Melanie HAUSER ADAM SCOTT: Backs up Valero win on the way to Pebble. Of course, he has to go through Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and the usual suspects to get there.

Bolton's Yahoo! selections

Fantasy columnist Rob Bolton will provide his Yahoo! picks as a starting point for you every week. Use the advice and opinion from his Power Rankings and Fantasy Insider to assist in determining lineups changes throughout each tournament. Group Starters Bench Group A Zach Johnson Tiger Woods Group B K.J. Choi, Nick Watney Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott Group C Matt Kuchar ngel Cabrera

Sign up for our FREE fantasy golf game on Yahoo! Click here

SOLID RECORDS: Jim Furyk has missed only one Memorial Tournament since he entered his first event in 1995. He didn't play in 2004 after undergoing surgery on his left wrist. But the 2002 champion, besides only missing one tournament in 15 years, has never missed the cut at the Dublin, Ohio, tournament. Furyk has had an outstanding 2010 season with two wins to his credit. He nearly took home a second Memorial title last year, finishing just a stroke behind Tiger Woods.

Kenny Perry is also working on a consecutive-cuts-made streak at the Memorial. After missing the cut in his first two Memorials -- in 1987 and 1989 -- and missing again in 1992, Perry, a three-time champion, has played on the weekend 16 consecutive times. Since his win in 2003 (he didn't play in 2006), Perry tied for sixth (2004), tied for 24th (2005), tied for third (2007), won (2008) and tied for 27th (2009).

ODDITIES AMONG THE ACES: There have been 17 holes-in-one at the Memorial since the tournament began in 1976. The first came from Gibby Gilbert in 1979, with the last courtesy of Tom Pernice, Jr. in 2004. There are a few oddities among the aces at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Since the TOUR began keeping track of aces in 1971, Hal Sutton, with 10, has the most holes-in-one in PGA TOUR events. He picked up his ninth TOUR ace in 2001 when he made a '1' at the 12th hole at Muirfield Village. Bob Tway is one of three TOUR golfers since 1971 to make two holes-in-one in the same tournament. Tway aced the eighth and 12th holes in the first and third rounds, respectively, of the 1994 Memorial (but only tied for 38th). Kenny Perry, in 1991 (on No. 16), and Jim Furyk (on No. 4), in 2002, both had aces and then went on to win the tournament.

OTHER NOTABLE PLAYERS AT MUIRFIELD: Woods will be looking for his first win of the season and first since last year's BMW Championship. He's won this event four times and is the defending champ. At stake may be his No. 1 ranking in the world as both he and Phil Mickelson are expected to compete. ... Ernie Els is having a great season with two wins to his credit and the top spot on the FedExCup list. He won the Memorial in 2004 and was T8 last year, one of his six career top-10 finishes in the tournament. ... Tim Clark won THE PLAYERS a few weeks back to break into the winner's circle on the PGA TOUR for the first time. After eight runner-up finishes on TOUR, Clark may now be ready to become a consistent winner. He plays well on tough golf courses. ... Masters champion Mickelson has only two top-10 finishes in this event in 10 previous tries, with a T4 in 2006 his best. He did not play here last year, but is back in the field this year looking to round into top form before the U.S. Open in two weeks. May have a shot at gaining the number one position in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career.