Scottie Scheffler solidified his dominance in the golf world by winning The Memorial Tournament for the second consecutive year, joining Tiger Woods as the only repeat winners in the event’s history. With tournament host Jack Nicklaus watching from the sidelines, Scheffler displayed calm precision to secure a four-shot victory at Muirfield Village.
Nicklaus, an 18-time major winner, recognized traits in Scheffler reminiscent of his own prime, praising his strategic approach and mental discipline. “Once I got myself into position to win, then you’ve got to be smart about how you finish it,” Nicklaus commented. “That’s the way he’s playing. He reminds me so much of the way I like to play.”
Scottie Scheffler final-round 2-under 70 brought his total to 10-under 278. Though the world No. 1 didn’t deliver his flashiest golf, his methodical play and relentless consistency ensured no one could mount a serious threat down the stretch. Remarkably, he was the only player to shoot under par in all four rounds.
Griffin Pushes, but Scheffler Holds Steady
Ben Griffin briefly narrowed the gap on the back nine, cutting the lead to a single stroke after Scheffler bogeyed the 10th. However, a pivotal moment came on the par-5 11th, where Scheffler drained a 15-foot birdie putt while Griffin missed his shorter chance. Scheffler then safely found the green on the following holes, while Griffin faltered with bogeys, allowing Scheffler to stretch the lead to four.
Griffin made a late push with an eagle on the 15th and a long birdie on the 16th, pulling within two strokes. But Scottie Scheffler remained composed, hitting fairways and greens on the final two holes, while Griffin stumbled with a double bogey on the 17th. Despite finishing second, Griffin walked away with a $2.2 million prize, saying, “I’m definitely proving further that I belong at the top in this game.”
Meanwhile, Austria’s Sepp Straka finished one stroke behind Griffin in third place. “Scottie’s relentless,” Straka said. “He loves competition and doesn’t give up shots.”
A Rising Streak and Historic Comparisons
Scheffler’s Memorial win marks his third victory in four starts, further increasing his lead atop the world rankings to levels reminiscent of Tiger Woods at his peak. He’s now won five signature events in the past two years and is undefeated when holding the 54-hole lead in his last nine such occasions.
Despite a challenging final round that included just one bogey and seven crucial par saves, Scottie Scheffler ability to stay out of trouble, particularly by avoiding the rough, was key. “Only one bogey around this place is pretty good,” he noted.
Rickie Fowler also found reason to celebrate, securing his first top-10 finish of the year and earning a spot in the British Open thanks to his higher world ranking over Brandt Snedeker.
As Jack Nicklaus summed it up: “That’s what the best player in the world does.” Scheffler now stands not just at the top of the leaderboard, but at the pinnacle of the sport.
Read Also: Legends of the Court: Ranking the Best Basketball Players of All Time
