Jack Nicklaus always said that the Columbus and Dublin areas represent the confluence of his personal and professional life. Columbus is where he was born and raised, where he started his own family, and where a legendary golf game got its start and was nurtured.

For years, it was Nicklaus's vision to create a golf club that embodied his personal and professional life, and would forever stand as a representation of his love and respect for the game of golf. It was also his vision to create a golf tournament that would long represent his passion for tournament golf, and would give back to a community that has embraced him and the game. This vision was fulfilled in May 1976, with the first playing of the Memorial Tournament. This came two years to the day after the doors were opened and the first shots played at Muirfield Village.

When Jack turned his attention to the tournament that would call Muirfield Village Golf Club its home, he had in mind what many have called Jack's second home - Augusta National Golf Club. During Masters Week in 1966, Nicklaus spoke of his desire to create a tournament that, like The Masters, had a global interest, and was inspired by the history and traditions of the game of golf.

Finally, it was Nicklaus's desire to create a tournament that would remember and honor the great golfers of the past, and those individuals who built the foundation to a game that today is played and enjoyed by millions around the world. He also wanted the tournament to give back in the form of charitable contributions to organizations benefiting needy adults and children throughout Columbus and Ohio. The primary charitable beneficiary of the tournament is Columbus Children's Hospital.

Winners

* 2005 Bart Bryant - United States
* 2004 Ernie Els - South Africa
* 2003 Kenny Perry - United States
* 2002 Jim Furyk - United States
* 2001 Tiger Woods - United States
* 2000 Tiger Woods - United States
* 1999 Tiger Woods - United States
* 1998 Fred Couples - United States
* 1997 Vijay Singh - Fiji
* 1996 Tom Watson - United States
* 1995 Greg Norman - Australia
* 1994 Tom Lehman - United States
* 1993 Paul Azinger - United States
* 1992 Dave Edwards - United States
* 1991 Kenny Perry - United States
* 1990 Greg Norman - Australia
* 1989 Bob Tway - United States
* 1988 Curtis Strange - United States
* 1987 Don Pooley - United States
* 1986 Hal Sutton - United States
* 1985 Hale Irwin - United States
* 1984 Jack Nicklaus - United States
* 1983 Hale Irwin - United States
* 1982 Raymond Floyd - United States
* 1981 Keith Fergus - United States
* 1980 David Graham - Australia
* 1979 Tom Watson - United States
* 1978 Jim Simons - United States
* 1977 Jack Nicklaus - United States
* 1976 Roger Maltbie - United States