Memorial Tournament - Tournament Highlights

Tournament Highlights

• 1976: Roger Maltbie wins the inaugural Memorial tournament in a playoff, defeating Hale Irwin with a birdie on the fourth extra hole. The playoff was a three-hole aggregate, the first of its kind. Irwin and Maltbie halved the first two extra holes, so it effectively became sudden-death for the third hole. Maltbie's errant approach shot appeared headed for the gallery when it hit a stake, causing the ball to bounce onto the green, where both parred to halve the hole.
• 1977: Poor weather results in a Monday finish for the tournament. Host Jack Nicklaus wins by two shots over Hubert Green.
• 1980: Tom Watson's bid to become the first Memorial champion to defend his title is foiled when David Graham birdies the 72nd hole to edge Watson by one shot.
• 1984: Jack Nicklaus defeats Andy Bean in a sudden-death playoff to become the first two-time Memorial winner.
• 1988: On his way to winning PGA Player of the Year, Curtis Strange wins Memorial by two shots over David Frost and Hale Irwin.
• 1991: Kenny Perry wins for the first time ever on the PGA Tour. He defeats Hale Irwin on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
• 1993: Paul Azinger birdies the 72nd hole by holing out from a sand trap and finishes one shot ahead of Corey Pavin.
• 1994: Tom Lehman shoots a tournament record 268 (-20) for 72 holes on his way to a five-shot victory over Greg Norman.
• 2000: Tiger Woods becomes the first Memorial winner to successfully defend his title and finishes five shots ahead of Ernie Els.
• 2001: Woods wins for a third consecutive year, seven shots clear of runners-up Paul Azinger and Sergio García.
• 2005: Bart Bryant saves par from a hazard on the 72nd hole to win by one shot over Fred Couples.
• 2007: K. J. Choi shoots a final round 65 to win by one shot over Ryan Moore.
• 2012: Tiger Woods birdied three of his last four holes including a chip in on the 16th hole, turning a two-shot deficit into a two-shot victory. The win is Woods' 73rd PGA Tour victory tying Jack Nicklaus for second most PGA Tour wins.