Tiger Woods at Memorial: the highlights

A look back at some of Tiger Woods' most memorable Memorial moments.

Memorial in 2012. Credit: Andy Lyons (Getty Images)

Tiger Woods will play the Memorial Tournament this week looking to win the event for the sixth time.

Tiger Woods will begin a hectic summer schedule by teeing it up at the Memorial Tournament on Thursday.

The 14-time major winner has an impressive record at the event and will be looking to add to his five titles at the Muirfield Village Golf Club.

If Woods is to add to his already superb haul in Ohio, he will need to recapture the form of old. Here are some of his most memorable moments at Memorial.

 

1. Becoming the first man to win back-to-back titles at Memorial in 2000.

Woods' win 15 years ago continued to corroborate that this was a very special player we were watching. As he secured victory by five shots over Ernie Els and Justin Leonard, he also became the first man to win the tournament back-to-back. The likes of Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Tom Watson had won it before, but none of them could claim to have defended their title. It was just one more achievement for Woods to tick off the growing list.

2. The flop-shot on 16 in 2012.

You didn't need the roaring crowd to know what Woods had done on the 16th hole of the final round was special. He was one shot behind Rory Sabbatini, but one hole ahead as he lined up his shot from just off the green in the thick grass. It was going to need the sort of touch that perhaps only Woods could give it. He chipped it on to the green and watched it role towards the hole, curving slightly as it did so, eventually dropping. Sabbatini and Andres Romero finished two shots back as Woods picked up his fifth Memorial title.

3. Finishing just one shot off Tom Lehman's 72-hole record.

In 1994, before Woods had fully captured the eyes of the golfing world, Tom Lehman set a course record of 268 at Memorial. Naturally Woods came agonisingly close to bettering it. Six years after Lehman's record was set, Woods shot 70 in the final round to finish one shot off another piece of history. Even after shooting a second round 63, the record still eluded him.

4. His birdie on hole 18 in the final round in 2009.

How about this for a grandstand finish. Woods finished the 2009 Memorial Tournament one shot ahead of Jim Furyk, but he needed something special to make sure of it. With the pin 184 yards away, Woods launched a 7-iron to within 14 inches of the hole. This left him with a tap-in birdie and, as it turned out, his fourth win at the event.

 

 

Will Medlock graduated from UEA with a degree in Film and Television before completing a Masters in Sports Journalism at St Mary's in London. Will has had work published by The Independent and the Rugby Paper.