Scottie Scheffler started the day with a four-shot lead but closed with a 74 after making just one birdie and three bogeys. It was enough however on a day when only six players broke par and the average score was just under 75 to win the Memorial Tournament by one shot.
“I didn’t have my best stuff, but man, I felt like I hit a lot of good shots that were just barely off. If I holed a few more putts, it probably would have been a really good round. But outside of that, you know, a few bounces my way — or a few bounces or breaks go my way, the day could have looked a little bit different, but I felt like I stepped up when I needed to there in the end.
“Being at Mr. Nicklaus’s golf course and being at a tournament where I’ve had a few close calls in the past, it’s very satisfying to hole that putt on 18 and be walking off with a win and shaking Mr. Nicklaus’s hand. A couple years ago I missed a putt that maybe would have been for a playoff, and he told me I didn’t make the putt today, but one day I’ll make the putt on 18 and I’ll be walking off to shake his hand.
“So, you know, it was pretty special thinking about that as I was walking over to shake his hand today and, yeah, it was a fun week.”
Scheffler is the first player since Justin Thomas in 2016-17 to win five times in one season. He has won five of his last eight starts on Tour and finished outside the top 10 only once in thirteen starts this season (T17/The American Express).
Fellow American Collin Morikawa carded a 71 to finish second at 7-under having made four birdies and three bogeys.
Canadian Adam Hadwin made three birdies and five bogeys for a 74 and finished third at 4-under. He earned an exemption to The 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon via The Open Qualifying Series as the top player not otherwise exempt.
South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout shot an even-par 72 to finish fourth at 3-under.
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