Woods and Nicklaus: A battle for the ages

The vast majority of extracurricular events on the PGA Tour are dismissed by hardened members of the media. Youth clinics, shootouts, pro-ams featuring corporate executives. B-list celebrities, and reluctant tour pros. They're all mere distractions until the real action begins.

Wednesday at the Memorial, however, will be a notable exception. That's when Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods will be playing together -- alongside Stewart Cink and Kenny Perry -- in a charity skins game at Muirfield Village.

Granted, it's not as significant as when Woods and Nicklaus played together the first two rounds at the 2000 PGA. But it's still enough of a reason to pay attention before the first round.

-- Sam Weinman