Tiger Woods, a five-time winner, back at Memorial Tournament

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MAY 13: Tiger Woods of the United States lines up a putt during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 13, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MAY 13: Tiger Woods of the United States lines up a putt during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 13, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Tiger Woods knows his way around the Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Village Golf Club course. He has won the Memorial Tournament five times.

Woods is playing in the Memorial this week after a two-year absence, and given his recent resurgence, there is good reason to think he has a reasonable chance to win.

He would have to play well because the 2018 field includes many of golf’s top performers. Among those expected to tee it up Thursday are Justin Thomas, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, defending champion Jason Duffner and the reigning Masters titleholder Patrick Reed.

The field also includes Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Rory McElroy, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson and Charl Swartzel.

Practice rounds will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday the pro-am participants include former NFL players Peyton Manning, Anthony Munoz, Ladainian Tomlinson and Greg Olsen. Nicklaus always emcees a clinic on the practice range Wednesday afternoon with a few of the players participating.

Tickets for the Monday-Wednesday practice rounds can be purchased at the gates for $35 (cash only). Tournament badges may be purchased by calling the ticket office at (877) 682-2343 or on the website: thememorialtournament.com. Patron badges are $185, Pavilion badges are $290 and those with admission to the Golden Bear Club on the course are also $290.

Chip Shots

Molly Skapik of Miamisburg turned in scores of 76, 71, 75 and 74 last weekend as the University of Louisville finished 15th in the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship

The 22-year-old Skapik, who recently graduated from U of L with an accounting degree, was 8-over par for the tournament at Stillwater, Okla. She finished her college career with a 75.17 stroke average over 118 rounds in 42 tournaments. She had 30 rounds of par or better.

•The 100th anniversary of John H. Patterson’s gift of Community Golf Course to the City of Dayton will be celebrated next weekend with a reception from 4-7 p.m. at the square dance pavilion at Community. Hors d’oeuvres will be served prior to an informative program. Tickets ($35) can be purchased at the Community golf shop or online. Proceeds will go to a fund for golf course improvements at Community.

•Bill Kumle, who has a golf equipment repair shop at Rollandia, told me that the course probably will be open through June before closing to make way for a senior citizen development.

•The Ohio Junior World Golf Championship for boys and girls will be held on Tuesday at NCR Country Club.

•Springfield Country Club will host a 36-hole U.S. Open Sectional qualifier on June 3. The U.S. Open will be held June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. Another sectional will be shared in Columbus by Brookside Golf & Country Club and The Lakes Golf & CC.

•Miami Valley Golf Club will host the Dayton-area qualifier for the Ohio Amateur Championship on Tuesday. The Ohio Am is scheduled July 9-13 at Wedgewood Golf & CC in the Columbus suburb of Powell.

•The entry deadline for the June 7-10 City Match Play championship at Madden Golf Course is Tuesday.

•The Senior Match Play will be held July 12-15 at Community Golf Course and the Senior Stroke Play is scheduled July 26-27 at Kittyhawk Golf Course

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