Collin Morikawa Eyes Breakthrough Win at Tough Muirfield Village After Near Misses

May 28, 2025

The Memorial Tournament, celebrating its 50th edition, continues to be held exclusively at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. As the seventh of eight Signature Events in the 2025 PGA TOUR season, the tournament attracts a strong field seeking to conquer one of golf’s most demanding courses. Collin Morikawa aiming for victory at Muirfield Village is among the highlights as he looks to overcome previous close calls.

Muirfield Village Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1974, presents a formidable challenge at 7,569 yards with a par of 72. The course’s difficulty is underscored by its rigorous layout, featuring narrow fairways, punishing rough, and small Bentgrass greens that reward precision. The tournament field consists of 72 players, including the defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has consistently performed well on this course with three top-three finishes in his last three visits.

Close Contender Collin Morikawa Seeks First Memorial Title

Collin Morikawa enters the tournament with notable history at Muirfield Village. The Californian claimed victory at the Workday Charity Open held at this venue during the abbreviated 2020 season and has twice finished as runner-up in the Memorial itself. In 2024, Morikawa was just one stroke shy of forcing a playoff with Scheffler, playing alongside the world No. 1 in the final group. His 2021 performance also saw a playoff effort, though he ultimately fell to compatriot Patrick Cantlay, the only multiple-time winner in the current field.

Morikawa’s bid for a breakthrough win has been hampered by setbacks, including a withdrawal in 2023 due to a back injury when he was two shots off the lead after three rounds. Despite these near misses, his consistent contention and ability to perform under pressure position him as a prime candidate to finally capture the Memorial title.

Other Leading Players and Past Champions in the Field

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler remains a strong threat, having produced 11 rounds of 71 or better in 16 starts at Muirfield Village, with the third-best stroke average in tournament history. Viktor Hovland, the 2023 winner, has shown steady progress over his five appearances, overcoming earlier struggles to claim his title in 2023. Hovland stands out as the only recent winner not ranking high in Greens in Regulation (GIR), but he compensated with exceptional putting.

International stars Justin Rose and Hideki Matsuyama, previous Memorial champions, are also in the lineup. Rose, who captured his first PGA TOUR win at Muirfield Village in 2014, holds a strong record of top-25 finishes but has been less active in recent years. Matsuyama, the tournament’s youngest winner ever at age 22, led scrambling statistics in 2024 and earned a top-10 finish. Meanwhile, Patrick Cantlay, a two-time champion, and several other contenders including Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Si Woo Kim, bring depth and experience to the competition.

Course Setup Makes Par a Strong Score

The Memorial’s layout punishes errant shots with dense ryegrass rough, strategically placed bunkers, multiple water hazards, and towering hardwood trees creating tight corridors off the tee. Approach shots are particularly demanding given the small, fast Bentgrass greens, averaging about 5,000 square feet, which are among the most challenging on the PGA TOUR. Positioning below the hole on these surfaces is critical for successful putting.

Despite featuring four par-5 holes, scoring opportunities are limited as recent editions have ranked among the toughest on TOUR for par-5 scoring. Over the past five years, Muirfield Village consistently rates in the top 10 most difficult courses on TOUR, including major championships, underscoring the event’s reputation as a test of accuracy and patience.

Tournament Records and Historical Highlights

A number of tournament records and milestones define the history of the Memorial Tournament. John Huston holds the course record after shooting 61 in the second round of the 1996 event, while Tom Lehman’s 268 (-20) in 1994 remains the tournament scoring record. Patrick Cantlay nearly matched that mark with 19-under par in 2019. No player has led wire-to-wire to claim victory, highlighting the volatility and challenge of the event.

Tiger Woods’ dominant seven-shot victory in 2001 represents the largest margin of victory and marked the only successful title defense in tournament history spanning 1999 to 2001. Kenny Perry remains the oldest champion, winning at age 47.

Following two rounds, the cut reduces the field to the top 50 players and ties, including anyone within ten shots of the lead, intensifying the competition for weekend positioning.

Notable Competitors and Their Records at Muirfield Village

The 2025 Memorial Tournament boasts a strong field, with 45 of the top 50 players from the Official World Golf Rankings included. Several notable players with standout records here add intrigue to the competition:

Matt Kuchar (+15000): With seven top-10 finishes, Kuchar is tied for third all-time and a player known for consistent under-par performances, although his last top-10 was in 2017.
Ludvig Åberg (+2500): The Swede impressed on debut in 2024 with a top-five finish and brings solid recent form from Augusta National.
Si Woo Kim (+4500): A steady competitor in his tenth start, Kim has never missed a weekend and holds multiple top-20 finishes at the event.
Matt Fitzpatrick (+5000): The Englishman boasts three top-10 finishes in six appearances, including back-to-back strong showings over the last two years.
Max Homa (+8000): Returning after skipping 2023, Homa looks to rebound following mid-tier finishes in recent tournaments.
Sepp Straka (+4500): The Austrian has shown steady improvement, posting a top-five in 2024 after several missed cuts earlier in his career.
Denny McCarthy (+4500): Coming off fluctuating results, McCarthy reached top-five in 2022 but struggled with opening and closing rounds in 2024.
Sungjae Im (+6000): Im’s consistency is evident through seven rounds at or better than par in his last 12 appearances and solid top-10 finishes recently.
Xander Schauffele (+1600): Despite no low rounds on weekends, Schauffele has five weekend paydays of T18 or better in six attempts, including a career-best eighth place last year.
Justin Thomas (+1800): Two-time PGA Championship winner Thomas makes his 11th Memorial start, though he has struggled to reach the top 10 in recent years.
Byeong Hun An (+9000): An has qualified for the weekend six times in nine starts, including a playoff loss in 2018 and consistent finishes inside the top 25 in recent years.

Significance and Outlook for the 2025 Memorial Tournament

The Memorial Tournament remains a pivotal event for players seeking to bolster status among the PGA TOUR elite, with its demanding course and strong field underscoring the significance of any victory here. Collin Morikawa aiming for victory at Muirfield Village reflects his growing maturity and persistence, as he attempts to convert near successes into a landmark win. Whether he or another contender can navigate the severe challenges posed by the course’s design will largely influence momentum heading into the final stages of the season.

As fans and competitors brace for an intense four-day battle, the combination of past performances, course difficulty, and player form makes the 2025 event one to watch closely. Morikawa’s quest for a breakthrough amidst the depth of talent suggests that any late surges or missteps could be decisive in crowning a new champion.