Jack Nicklaus says Memorial could move before U.S. Open

DUBLIN, Ohio — The PGA Tour is strongly considering moving the Memorial Tournament farther from Memorial Day and closer to Father’s Day as it decides whether to push the 2024 event deeper into June, one week before the U.S. Open.

“I’d say it’s a strong possibility,” Memorial founder and host Jack Nicklaus said Sunday. “I would prefer to stay where we are. I don’t like being the week before the Open, but if it’s for the betterment of the Tour and what they’re trying to do then I would understand that, too.”

Will golf fans accustomed to attending the event during its traditional Memorial Day week placement on the calendar be as understanding? Probably, but scheduling adjustments will need to happen. For example, the second week of June often jump-starts vacation season for families who cannot get away sooner because of school conflicts. For instance, high school athletes are competing this weekend in state championships.

Nicklaus stressed that tournament scheduling dates remain fluid, sharing that Tour officials told him Wednesday no final decision on the Memorial had been made. So the Golden Bear may yet get his wish to maintain scheduling status quo.

“They’ve asked me about it,” he said. “I’m not in favor of it, but I would cooperate with the Tour.”

Nicklaus won’t come out and say it, but I can. Moving the Memorial later a week does not mean the sky is falling, but it would stink all the same.

First, there is the issue of tying the Memorial to Memorial Day. Since its arrival in 1976, the tournament has selected one or more honorees who have positively impacted golf. The tournament has not always been held the same week as Memorial Day, but moving it permanently to a week later bugs me, plus it brings in even hotter weather.

So why do it? Money, of course. Mostly to compete against LIV Golf’s Saudi-backed cash, the PGA Tour has designated eight tournaments to offer elevated purses. As one of the eight, the Memorial’s purse increased from $12 million in 2022 to $20 million this year.

Many of the top Tour players want a better schedule “flow,” meaning as many designated events scheduled back-to-back as possible. They don’t like one on, one off. In response, the Tour is committed to “bunching” designated events next year.

Andy Pazder, chief tournament and competition officer for the PGA Tour, said Wednesday the Tour also is sensitive to the concerns of non-designated tournaments that worry they will get…