Dublin will get a double dose of major golf tournaments this year.
The Memorial Tournament, the 38th of which is May 27-June 2, is on everyone’s mind now. The top-level PGA TOUR event runs from morning until night daily, with at least 70 golfers on the course.
Like the Memorial Tournament, the Presidents Cup, slated for Oct. 1-6, takes place at Muirfield Village Golf Club and includes some international players. But that’s where the similarities end.
This marks the first time the Presidents Cup – which is staged every two years, alternating between the U.S. and overseas – will be played at the Muirfield Village course. A total of 24 golfers will compete.
Here’s the 10th Presidents Cup at a glance:
-Two 12-member teams, one from the U.S. and one from countries outside Europe, compete. Players from Europe are in the Ryder Cup.
-Practice takes place Oct. 1 and 2. Tournament play runs Oct. 3-6, with five competitive rounds in four days in three formats – four-ball, better ball, singles. All are match play.
-Probable U.S. players include Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson and Steve Stricker. Likely international team members are Charles Schwartzel, Ernie Els, John Senden, Adam Scott (this year’s Masters Tournament winner) and Australia native Jason Day, now a Westerville-area resident.
-The popular Fred Couples captains the U.S. team for the third time, while Nick Price, once a top-ranked Tour player and a major tournament winner, is the international captain.
-Cup players take home no prize money. The Cup has donated $27 million to charitable causes in 15 countries after its first eight events.
-Single tournament badges are $210 or $360. The latter includes access to the Captains Club, a special hospitality venue along the 10th fairway.
Gallery experience for the Cup will be almost totally different than that of the Memorial. Hospitality spots, all but one bought and paid for through higher-priced packages sold mainly to businesses, will be spread around the back nine. Some remain from the Memorial but more, mostly “Presidential Suites,” are being added.
Except for Saturday, Oct. 5, when six teams play two rounds each, play won’t continue as nearly as many hours as it does at the Memorial. For players, the course won’t be changed, but it plays differently in October than it does in May and June.
And for all, loud, patriotic cheers will resound – an atmosphere far different than the Memorial’s.
Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
