DUBLIN (Ohio) — The beep-beep-beep sound you heard near the 16th at Muirfield Village Golf Club is Jack Nicklaus, course designer and Memorial Tournament’s host, backing up his plan.
Nicklaus, after seeing scores soar at the par 3 hole, which was widened this year by 20 yards to 211 yards, and hearing several PGA Tour players criticize the change said he would likely redesign the hole to be more fair.
Nicklaus stated, “My guess is that I will change the hole.” Nicklaus said, “I don’t think I want people to say, ‘What an amazing 17-hole course.’ If we have normal wind conditions, the hole will be fine, but not if the conditions are wrong.”
Jason Day referred to No. Jordan Spieth called No. 16 “a stupid hole,” and Jason Day said “It is not a good hole according to pretty much everyone who’s playing today.”
Nicklaus replied, “I hear that,” explaining that he sat with Spieth over lunch to discuss No. 16. “I told them, ‘Guys I want to hear your feedback. I want to make this tournament the best that I can, and we will make adjustments if necessary. “I have no problem with that.”
Nicklaus believes that a hole, which is already challenging, is made even more difficult if the wind blows from the northeast. This was the case for most of the first three day of the tournament. The prevailing wind is usually from the southwest.
“We had a wind blowing from left to right, and the greens are so firm that you won’t be able to put the ball over the water on the left of the green.” If you did, and the wind started to blow it right, it would be difficult to keep the golf ball on the green.
