Nicklaus listened to PGA Tour golfers and looked at the stats.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jack Nicklaus got the message loud and clear. And the Memorial Tournament host and founder has acted upon the criticism he heard by changing the 16th hole at Muirfield Village Golf Club into something less detestable to PGA Tour players.
“The guys kept talking to me about it, and I sat down with Jordan Spieth about it and maybe (Justin Thomas),” Nicklaus said Wednesday. “And we sat down, and I said, ‘Guys, you’re only playing an 8 or 9-iron into (a 220-yard par 3).’ Then I looked at the stats. And 36 percent of the guys hit the green on Saturday and 28 percent hit it on Sunday.”