34th Memorial Tournament: Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods will play nine-hole Skins game

In the 34^th Memorial Tournament at Murifield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods will participate in a nine-hole Skins game on June 3, 2009. For the first time in nine years, the two players will compete against one another. However, this rare event is coming at a price. According to previous schedule, famous investment firm, Morgan Stanley, was to sponsor the tournament’s annual pro-am competition. In a bid to cut its cost, the company will not provide its hospitality tent and the pro-am event where it pairs its employees and clients with some of the top players of the tour.

In fall 2008, amid the rising credit crisis, Morgan Stanley changed its status to a “bank holding company.” In February, the company already announced that it would not sponsor events to entertain its clients that would be held prior to a professional golf tournament in June. In 2008, fifty four clients and employees of Morgan Stanley participated in the pre-tournament pro-am event. Morgan Stanley’s sponsorship agreement with Memorial Tournament will expire next year.

Kenny Perry, last year Memorial Tournament Champions considers this loss as a new opportunity. He said that the sponsors might miss it but to him it would be a “truly fun day.” Kenny Perry and Stewart Clink will compete with Tiger Woods, the current No.1 player in the world and Jack Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 major tournaments. The last time Nicklaus and Woods played against each other was at the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhall Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. This will be followed by another foursome featuring Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and Camilo Villegas. The 34^th Memorial tournament will start from June 4, 2009.

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