Scottie Scheffler Becomes First Player Since Tiger Woods To Successfully Defend Memorial Tournament Title

The World No.1 recorded his 16th PGA Tour title and third win in his past four starts via a four-stroke success at Muirfield Village Golf Club

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World No.1, Scottie Scheffler became the first player since Tiger Woods to successfully defend the Memorial Tournament title thanks to a closing round of 70 at Muirfield Village Golf Club on Sunday.

Scheffler finished the penultimate PGA Tour Signature Event of the season on 10-under, four strokes clear of Ben Griffin in second, to seal the third victory in his past four starts and the 16th win of his incredible career.

The three-time Major winner began his final round one stroke ahead and never appeared in any real danger of relinquishing his crown – even when Griffin followed up a late eagle with a birdie to move within two.

A couple of strokes was as close as the two-time PGA Tour winner came to catching Scheffler, though, as a late birdie from the runaway champion and a double-bogey on 17 from Griffin all but sealed the deal prior to a leisurely stroll down the last.

Following a firm handshake from 18-time Major winner and Memorial Tournament host, Jack Nicklaus, Scheffler immediately greeted his wife, Meredith and son, Bennett. Holding the latter in his arms, Scheffler tried to express what the moment meant to him.

He said: “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. It’s always a hard week, this week. It’s so challenging to play this tournament. I battled really hard over the weekend and Ben [Griffin] made things interesting there down the stretch. Overall, it was a great week and I’m definitely proud to be shaking Mr Nicklaus’ hand at the end of another good week.”

Key to Scheffler’s success at Muirfield Village was his bogey avoidance as others regularly stumbled. Among just 11 players to finish under-par, Scheffler carded only one bogey in his closing 40 holes and that arrived at the 10th hole on Sunday.

An immediate bounceback birdie set the World No.1 on the right path again, however, and he continued that positive momentum to the finish line with a handful of important par saves.

Scheffler will now take a week off to rest and prepare for the US Open at Oakmont Country Club in 10 days’ time.

Another player who will be getting ready for a Major championship test very soon is Rickie Fowler after the six-time PGA Tour winner – who received a sponsor’s invite to the Memorial Tournament – clinched the one Open Championship berth on the line in Ohio this week.

Brandt Snedeker was Fowler’s only rival coming down the stretch after the nine-time PGA Tour winner posted a remarkable seven-under-par to move from six-over to one-under.

Yet, a clutch up-and-down at the last helped the 36-year-old remain at one-under as well and seal the Major championship berth thanks to his superior world-ranking position.

Reacting to his achievement, Fowler said: “This week still could have been a lot better, but definite positive is going over to Portrush. That’s one I’ve wanted on the schedule.

“I had a great time when we were there the last and had a decent showing as well. So links golf’s my favorite, Portrush is a great spot, so excited for that opportunity.”

Fowler’s T7th finish grouped him alongside Jordan Spieth, Keegan Bradley, Tom Hoge and Snedeker but behind Maverick McNealy and Russell Henley in a share of fifth on two-under.

Between them and Griffin in second was Nick Taylor in fourth on four-under and Sepp Straka in solo third on five-under.

The Memorial Tournament Leaderboard

-10 Scottie Scheffler (70)
-6 Ben Griffin (73)
-5 Sepp Straka (70)
-4 Nick Taylor (73)
-2 Russell Henley (71)
-2 Maverick McNealy (70)
-1 Brandt Snedeker (65)
-1 Tom Hoge (70)
-1 Rickie Fowler (73)
-1 Jordan Spieth (74)
-1 Keegan Bradley (74)
E Taylor Pendrith (70)
E Harris English (71)
E Sam Burns (72)
E Patrick Cantlay (74)