DUBLIN (United States) – World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler held his nerve to take a one-shot victory at the PGA Tour’s Memorial in Ohio on Sunday after a thrilling final-round duel with Collin Morikawa.
Scheffler fired a final 2-over-par 74 at Muirfield Village to finish 8-under to seal a morale-boosting victory as he prepares to attack next week’s US Open in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
The American led by four shots after Saturday’s third round, but that lead gradually evaporated with playing partner Morikawa chasing in perfect conditions on the challenging 7,569-yard, par-72 layout.
But despite an error-strewn round that included three bogeys and just one birdie, Scheffler’s unflappable temperament proved decisive.
“Pretty amazing,” Scheffler said after his win. “I feel like I have a few games in this tournament. This is a tough place to close out, as you saw today. The golf course played so hard.”
Scheffler was congratulated by tournament host and golf icon Jack Nicklaus as he left the 18th green after winning a cool $4 million.
“I remember shaking Mr. Nicklaus’ hand a few years ago and him telling me I didn’t make the putt today, but one day I’ll make it and I’ll be able to shake his hand. So to be able to shake his hand today.” it was pretty surreal.”
Morikawa, who shot a closing 71, moved to within three at the start of the round when he made his first birdie of the day on the second hole.
However, Scheffler extended his advantage to six shots at the sixth when he holed a nine-footer and birdied when Morikawa bogeyed.
TRUCK MISS
But Morikawa bounced back immediately with a birdie on the seventh and, after making an eight-foot birdie putt on the ninth, holed another to move to one under for the day.
That left him two off the lead after Scheffler’s bogey at the eighth, and Morikawa kept the pressure on with a monster 32-foot birdie putt on the 12th on the third hole to move within one.
But Morikawa squandered a golden chance to grab a share of the lead on the par-five 15th hole, misreading the line and rolling a six-foot putt just wide to leave Scheffler on the tee heading into the final three holes.
That mistake proved costly for Morikawa on the par-3 16th, where he was left with a 22-foot putt after landing on the green off the tee to save par for the chip.
He missed the putt and then could only watch as Scheffler coolly drained a 15-footer for par, leaving him at two shots clear.
Hope dawned for Morikawa on the 17th when Scheffler bogeyed after missing 10 feet to save par.
But Scheffler’s knack for regrouping under pressure was on display again on the par 18. After hitting his second over the back of the green, he chipped in and then sunk five feet for the win.
Morikawa finished one back at 7 under, while Canada’s Adam Hadwin was tied for third at four after a closing 74.
South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout was fourth at three under after a final round 72, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, Sweden’s Ludvic Aberg and Austria’s Sepp Straka tied for fifth.
