Defending Memorial champion Viktor Hovland joins Rory McIlroy in committing to Muirfield
Viktor Hovland has committed to defend his title at the Memorial Tournament, while Rory McIlroy has announced he will return to Muirfield Village Golf Club June 6-9 seeking his first victory handshake from tournament host and founder Jack Nicklaus.
Hovland has struggled this year since finishing 2023 strong. After winning the Memorial in a playoff against Denny McCarthy, the Norwegian won the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship and captured the FedEx Cup worth $18 million. The 26-year-old changed swing coaches this season in hopes of finding more consistency off the tee.
"I actually hit the ball better in 2021," he said of his play last year. "I like to see the ball go where I think it's going to go."
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McIlroy will be making his 13th start at the Memorial, where he has five top-10 finishes, including a best tie for fourth in 2016.
Joining Hovland and McIlroy in committing is Matthew Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy commit to playing Memorial Tournament
