Jordan Spieth is a huge fan of Muirfield Village, and he has played in every single Memorial Tournament since 2013.
Jack Nicklaus is a huge admirer of Spieth, both as a person and a golfer.
So when the 32-year-old plays at The Memorial, the two always meet up to chat about the golf course at Muirfield Village and the game in general.
Jordan Spieth is always extremely honest and straightforward with Jack Nicklaus, regarding areas of the golf course he believes are in need of improvement.
Spieth will be hoping for a good finish at The Memorial this week, after he recorded a top-10 last year at Muirfield Village.
Jordan Spieth is very close to winning again on the PGA Tour, and he would be a hugely popular victor this week in Dublin, Ohio.
Nicklaus would undoubtedly love to see one of his favorite golfers in the modern-era return to the winners’ circle, despite the fact that the three-time major champion recently criticized one of the holes at Muirfield Village to his face.
Jack Nicklaus changed one hole at Muirfield Village after Jordan Spieth’s advice
One of the most impressive things about Nicklaus, given the success that he has had in the game, is that he is always open to taking advice from modern-day players about his golf course at Muirfield Village.
It would be so easy for him to think that he knows best.
A great example of that was back in 2024 when Nicklaus was given some very strong advice from Jordan Spieth about one hole in particular.
When speaking during the Memorial Tournament in 2024, Nicklaus revealed what Spieth told him about the par-three 16th hole.
“Jordan says, what a horrible hole,” Nicklaus said.
“Well, I listen to that. You know, maybe it is a horrible hole. So how am I going to make it better? My whole goal here is to have 18 of the best holes I could have that will be, as I said earlier, firm, fast and fair.
Nobody will complain with that. But if it’s not fair and it’s too difficult, then they have a problem. As I say, I listen to that, I react to it, and no golf course is perfect.”
The 16th hole at Muirfield Village has always caused problems for the players and it has undergone numerous changes and re-designs.
16th hole issues at Muirfield Village
The hole has been lengthened, shortened and then lengthened again.
A lake was added in front of the green in 2010 and then the tee box was moved 30 yards out to the right more than a decade later, because it was impossible to hold the green with its original layout.
In spite of all of that, it still feels as though Nicklaus hasn’t quite got the design right.
When the hole plays downwind, it can be incredibly difficult for players to hold the green, regardless of how well they strike their shots.
Maybe the hole should be made shorter, with the green complex changed to make it fairer, while still making it very challenging for players to get their balls close to the hole.
Getting the 16th at Muirfield Village absolutely spot on is clearly an ongoing process, and Jack Nicklaus will continue to take on board advice from players like Jordan Spieth regarding ways to make the hole better.
