| NOTES | | | The PGA Tour returns to Ohio this week as Jack Nicklaus hosts The Memorial at
Muirfield Village. Nicklaus won this event twice and now welcomes many of the
world`s best to his course every year, two weeks before the U.S. Open. Last
year, Justin Rose was coming off a tough week at Colonial, but he found his
game at Muirfield. Rose opened with a 65 and closed with a 66 en route to a
three-stroke win over Rickie Fowler. The victory was Rose`s first on the PGA
Tour and he would go on to collect his second title less than a month later
at the AT&T National. Rose trailed Fowler by four strokes heading into
Sunday`s play, but soared past the young American, who stumbled to a one-over
73 in the final round. Fowler is still looking for that elusive first win,
while Rose has racked up seven top-20 finishes this season. They are both in
the field this week along with seven former champions -- K.J. Choi, Carl
Pettersson, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Fred Couples, Vijay Singh and three-time
winner Kenny Perry. New Masters champion Charl Schwartzel is the only
reigning major champion in the field this week. This week and next are
important for those outside the top 50 in the world. Those that get into the
top 50 in the world on June 13 will gain entry into the U.S. Open. Among
those outside the top 50 that are not already qualified for the U.S. Open,
and playing this week, are Gary Woodland, J.B. Holmes, Steve Marino and
Singh. Golf Channel has the first two rounds before CBS takes over on the
weekend. The PGA Tour heads to Memphis next week for the FedEx St. Jude
Classic, where Lee Westwood won last year.
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