PGA Tour golfing: Scottie Scheffler turns into first golfer since Tiger Woods to protect identify at Memorial Tournament

Scottie Scheffler got here thru a final-round tussle with Ben Griffin to say a 3rd PGA Tour win of the season with a a hit identify defence on the Memorial Tournament.

Scheffler took a one-shot lead into the general day at Muirfield Village and not relinquished best spot, with the sector No 1 carding a final-round 70 to near out a four-shot victory and turn into the primary participant since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back editions of the development.

The three-time main champion blended 3 birdies with one bogey to check in a 3rd win in 4 begins, following on from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and the PGA Championship, with the good fortune extending his merit on the best of each the sector ratings and the FedExCup standings.

Griffin performed along Scheffler and used to be inside a shot for enormous sections of the general around, best to double-bogey his penultimate gap and end 4 strokes again, with Sepp Straka in 3rd spot on 5 below after a final-round 70.

Nick Taylor grabbed fourth spot forward of Russell Henley and Maverick McNealy, whilst Rickie Fowler’s tied-seventh end earns him a place at The Open subsequent month by the use of the Open Qualifying Series, the place one spot used to be on be offering for Royal Portrush to the best finisher no longer already exempt.

Scheffler stars once more at Signature Event

A topsy-turvy get started noticed Scheffler rise up and down from off the primary inexperienced to scramble a par to double his in a single day lead, just for Griffin to undo his opening-hole bogey by way of changing from 5 to birdie the following.

Griffin carded a three-putt bogey on the fourth however took benefit of the par-five subsequent, the place Scheffler neglected a four-foot birdie likelihood and persevered his par streak.

Scheffler holed from seven ft to save lots of par on the 6th and claimed a primary birdie of the day from shut vary on the par-five subsequent, with the sector No 1 attaining the flip two forward once you have up and down to save lots of par on the 9th.

The protecting champion replied to beginning his again 9 with a bogey by way of rolling in from 15 ft to birdie the par-five 11th, prior to grabbing complete keep an eye on of the event when Griffin did not rise up and down from the sand on the par-three 12th for the primary of successive bogeys.

Scheffler transformed from 10 ft to save lots of par on the 14th and made a two-putt birdie on the par-five 15th, the place Griffin holed a 12-foot eagle after which tired a 30-foot birdie on the subsequent to leap again inside two.

Griffin’s hopes ended with an errant pressure on the par-four 17th and premature double-bogey, shedding him 4 at the back of, as Scheffler completed with successive pars to near out a 16th PGA Tour victory.

Griffin disillusioned with runner-up end to Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler: “Only one bogey around this place is pretty good. I hit a lot of fairways. I definitely wasn’t in the rough very much. I think I hit it in the rough off of 10, but outside of that, I don’t think I was really in the rough at all. So around this place, that’s going to be key. I drove the ball really nice today.”

Ben Griffin: “My putter indubitably wasn’t somewhat 100 consistent with cent there. I made it thrilling there on the finish for a few holes. It’s humorous, I’d take this end, like, a yr in the past, two years in the past, 3 years in the past. I’m indubitably slightly disillusioned not to have made it slightly bit nearer or gotten it executed.

“I’ll learn from some of my swings down the stretch, I’ll remember some of the good stuff, and I’ll bounce back and get right back to it. So overall, great week, but definitely a little disappointed with the second.”

What’s subsequent?

The PGA Tour heads to Ontario for the RBC Canadian Open, the place Robert MacIntyre returns as protecting champion and Rory McIlroy is again in motion for the primary time for the reason that PGA Championship. Early protection starts on Thursday from 11.45am on Sky Sports+ forward of complete protection from 8pm on Sky Sports Golf.

Scheffler takes per week off prior to heading to america Open at Oakmont, continue to exist Thursday June 12 from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or flow with NOW.