2026 Memorial Tournament kicks off with $20M purse

The 2026 Memorial Tournament, one of the PGA Tour's premier signature events, begins Thursday at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. The 72-player field, headlined by world number one Scottie Scheffler and Masters champion Rory McIlroy, will compete for a $20 million purse, with the winner earning $4 million.

Scheffler, the two-time defending champion, will attempt to join Tiger Woods as the only players to win the tournament three consecutive times. His victory last year by four strokes made him the first player since Woods to successfully defend the Memorial title. Rory McIlroy, who has 30 PGA Tour wins, is seeking his first victory at the Jack Nicklaus-hosted event.

The tournament will be without several notable players. Viktor Hovland, the 2023 champion, withdrew over the weekend, marking the first time he will miss the Memorial when eligible. Collin Morikawa, a two-time runner-up at the event, is absent while managing a back injury. Several players received sponsor exemptions, including Tony Finau and Billy Horschel. Eric Cole earned a spot in his first signature event of the year via the Aon Swing 5.

Tournament host and 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus is...