Scottie Scheffler is really good at winning, but his latest win at the Memorial tournament was anything but ordinary.
Scottie Scheffler clinches Memorial victory
He only got one birdie. His last round score was 2-over 74, his highest in two years. He didn’t win until Scheffler confidently made a downhill putt from 5 feet away to control the break.
He hit the ball perfectly to win the game with just one shot against Collin Morikawa. Then, he shook hands with Jack Nicklaus, who hosted the tournament. Their handshake showed how much it meant to them.
“Nicklaus said, ‘You’ve survived.'”
“Thanks,” Scheffler said. “Wow, you really made this place tough today.”
Scheffler faced more stress than he wanted, but still clinched his fifth victory of the season in early June. Now, he’s gearing up for another challenge at the U.S. Open next week.
Muirfield Village was tough today! The greens were super firm, and the wind was all over the place. Only six players managed to shoot under par, and the average score was just under 75.
Scheffler stayed ahead by four shots from the beginning, but he never felt secure. Morikawa and Adam Hadwin were always close behind, especially on the challenging back nine where even making par was tough. And on the 18th hole, making par was crucial.
“It’s always tricky finishing up here,” Scheffler remarked.
Just barely.
Scheffler was ahead of Morikawa by one shot. They both hit their approach shots, which bounced high off the green and landed in the rough. After chipping close to the hole, about 5 feet away, Scheffler sank his putt to win. His strong fist pump showed how challenging the day had been for him, and for everyone else too.
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The day became even more special when I remembered the time I spent with Nicklaus at the Memorial tournament. And then, to top it off, I got to hold my one-month-old son, Bennett, at his very first PGA Tour event.
Scheffler remembered 2021 vividly. He had missed a crucial 6-foot putt on the last hole, crushing his hopes for a playoff. As he walked away from the green, he couldn’t shake off the disappointment. But then, Nicklaus’s words echoed in his mind: “One day, Scheffler will sink that putt on the 18th, and I’ll be there to congratulate him.”
“He said it felt really special to think about that as he walked over to shake his hand.”
Morikawa, who was in the last group for both majors this year, sunk a long 30-foot birdie putt on the 12th hole, keeping close to Scheffler for the rest of the game. He shot a 71, the only one among the last 13 groups to score under par.
Adam Hadwin was in contention until he stumbled at the end, finishing with three consecutive bogeys to end with a 74, securing third place all by himself.
Scheffler ended with a score of 8-under 280 and took home $4 million from this big tournament, which had a total purse of $20 million. With this win, he’s now earned over $24 million for the year, breaking the PGA Tour’s record for earnings in a single season. And it’s only June! This achievement surpasses his own record from last year, highlighting how prize money in golf is on the rise.
Next week at Pinehurst No. 2, Scheffler will head to the U.S. Open as a big favorite. This marks his 11th straight tournament finishing in the top 10.
Morikawa earned $2.2 million, giving him a solid lead as he aims for the fourth spot on the American team heading to the Olympics in Paris this summer.
Hadwin was almost leading until he got two bogeys on the first nine holes. He kept competing but ended with two more bogeys, finishing with a 74. Despite that, his third-place finish pushed him past Corey Conners, securing the second Canadian spot in the Olympics.
After the U.S. Open, the world ranking decides who gets to go to Paris.
Scheffler only made one birdie throughout the round, sinking a 10-foot putt on the sixth hole. However, he missed two opportunities for birdies on the back nine, both within 10 feet, which could have given him a bit of a lead.
He made the biggest one on the 16th hole, which is a par-3.
Scheffler and Morikawa both faced a tough challenge on the super smooth green, nearly 90 feet away. Scheffler opted for his putter but didn’t hit it strong enough, leaving his ball 15 feet short. Meanwhile, Morikawa tried a chip shot from the edge of the green but didn’t give it enough power either, leaving his ball about 20 feet short of the hole.
Morikawa failed to make his par putt, while Scheffler sank his, extending his lead by two shots.
Scheffler’s last shot on the 17th hole didn’t go as planned, causing him to hold onto a one-shot lead as he headed into the challenging 18th hole. He finished with a crucial putt to secure his position.
Next is what many call the toughest test in golf. Players are feeling like they just finished a grueling challenge at Muirfield Village.
“Hadwin pointed out, ‘You can see it in two ways: Either it’s good practice for next week, or we just took a beating before heading into next week.'”
Scheffler clinched his 11th career victory and 12th worldwide with another win. He’s known for his ability to finish strong, whether he’s coming from behind or pulling ahead from a tight start. In this latest win, he almost lost his four-shot lead.
It was his best closing round since a 74 at the British Open in St. Andrews back in 2022. This win adds another feather to his cap, triumphing against tough competition once again. He’s now secured victories in three major events (Bay Hill and Hilton Head being the others), adding to his collection which already includes The Players Championship and his second Masters green jacket.
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