The Memorial Tournament hosted golf big shots such as Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler at Muirfield Village, but Ohio State football stalwarts Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles won the week.
Thousands teemed with photos, evidence of Columbus’s undying passion for Buckeye football. These gridiron heroes even eclipsed golf’s greatest icons in a city that lives and breathes college football from every alley.
Ohio State Stars Outshine Golf Icons at Muirfield
At the Memorial Tournament, despite the presence of top-tier golfers such as Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, and Nick Taylor, Ohio State football standouts Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles captured the spotlight. They attracted enormous crowds for photos and showcased the deep-rooted local love for college football in Columbus.
A tweet by Adam King captured the moment perfectly:
“The biggest golf stars in the world at Muirfield, yet the longest line for pictures seems to be Caleb Downs and SonnyStyles.”
The biggest golf stars in the world at Muirfield, yet the longest line for pictures seems to be Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles: pic.twitter.com/fkKavDO0tR
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) June 1, 2025
This shows the immense popularity of Ohio State University football at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Even with some of the best golfers in the world on hand, and perhaps even more so for Columbus fans of college football.
The duo from Ohio State has transformed from high school stars to Buckeyes legends. A native of Hoschton, Georgia, Downs was the 2022-23 Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year and later transferred from Alabama to Ohio State in 2024. There, he had a unanimous All-American season with 82 tackles.
Styles (Pickerington, Ohio) transitioned to linebacker and led the team with 52 tackles. His performance against Penn State was stellar. Both are beloved in Columbus.
College Football: The Soul of Columbus
College football is bigger than a game in Columbus, Ohio, where it is ingrained in the fabric of the community and the way of life.
The obsession with Ohio State University football is evident to the senses, as fans fill up Ohio Stadium, which is more commonly called the “Horseshoe,” and the anticipation on game days electrifies the entire city.
Traditions like game-day tailgating bring families and friends together in a festive prelude to the action.
At the same time, the iconic “Script Ohio” marching band performance, a meticulously choreographed drill by the Ohio State University Marching Band since 1936, symbolizes pride and unity with its intricate formation and the climactic “dotting of the i” by a sousaphone player.
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The intense rivalry with Michigan, known as “The Game ” is no less important. ” This event has long had championships and passions at stake, making it one of the most storied sports series ever.
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