In brief: Mickelson and Garcia headline at Memorial

The Memorial had high hopes of landing all of the top 10 players in the world for the first time until Tiger Woods decided his left knee was not fully recovered from surgery.

Since then, the stars have been falling like rain, which is never a good sign at Muirfield Village.

Adam Scott opted not to play, citing fatigue. Vijay Singh was still smarting from a rib injury and had to pull out. Steve Stricker withdrew with an elbow injury. Even some of the alternates for the 120-man field decided not to come.

Who does that leave at the Dublin, Ohio, Memorial?

Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, both fresh off important victories.

Adding to the spice of Mickelson and Garcia coming off big wins is they’ll be playing together the first two days at Muirfield Village, which is in supreme condition from tee-to-green, with rough that might be thicker – albeit different – than the U.S. Open.

They aren’t alone, of course.

Ernie Els was coming and going and finally showed up Tuesday for a tournament he won in 2004. Three others from the top 10 were Geoff Ogilvy, Jim Furyk and K.J. Choi, the defending champion of the Memorial.

“Lorena Ochoa withdrew from the Ginn Tribute at Mount Pleasant, S.C., putting the top-ranked player’s duel with tournament host Annika Sorenstam on hold.

Ochoa left for Mexico on Tuesday night, saying in a statement that her uncle was ill.

Miscellany

NASCAR penalizes 3 JR Motorsports members

Three members of Brad Keselowski’s team, including crew chief Tony Eury Sr., were penalized for participating in a post-race altercation with Denny Hamlin’s crew on pit road at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday night. … The crew chiefs for Scott Riggs and Johnny Sauter have been fined $100,000 each and suspended six races for tampering with the rear wings on their Chevrolets during last weekend’s race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. … The Indy Racing League has set July 26 for the Rexall Edmonton Indy, one of two street course events added to the IndyCar schedule this season from the former Champ Car Series.

“Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers lineman Thomas McHale, who was found dead at a friend’s Tampa-area home on Sunday, was using anti-depression medicine and cocaine the night before he died, authorities said. … Jason Taylor is headed back to South Florida after three months away from home. But the six-time Pro Bowl defensive end doesn’t sound like he’s in any rush to settle his stalemate with the Dolphins. “I’m under contract with the Dolphins. So again, I’m looking forward to playing some golf. Football doesn’t start until July and training camp, so I’ll be all right,” Taylor said after playing in a pro-am for the Principal Charity Classic, a Champions Tour event in Iowa.

“Microsoft will sponsor the new MLS team in Seattle. The Seattle Sounders FC will be sponsored by Microsoft and Xbox Live 360, the team announced. Microsoft will pay a reported $20 million over five years.

“Peru will bid to host the 2020 Olympics, pointing to its improved economy, foreign investment and decreasing poverty rates.