Memorial Tournament returns to Dublin

The world's best golfers are in Dublin this week for the 47th Memorial Tournament.

• Here's a quick guide that will help if tourney talk comes up at happy hour or your next Zoom meeting.

The big picture: The Memorial is Ohio's biggest golf tournament each year and features one of the PGA Tour's biggest prize purses ($12 million).

• Last year's winner, Patrick Cantlay, took home a cool $1.7 million.
• The tournament supports numerous local charities, including Nationwide Children's Hospital.

The course: Muirfield Village Golf Club, a challenging course designed by none other than Jack Nicklaus.

• "The Golden Bear" won the tournament in 1977 and 1984.

The field: Cantlay is back to defend his victory against 2021 Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama and top golfers like Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm and others.

• Notably absent is Tiger Woods, the five-time Memorial winner who now plays a limited tournament schedule after a 2021 car crash.

The intrigue: Rain is something of a Memorial tradition, which some attribute to "The Curse of Chief Leatherlips."

• Indeed, rain is on the horizon for the opening round on Thursday.

If you go: Practice round tickets are still available today and tomorrow at various course entrances.