Scotty Schaeffler came through final round contest with Ben Griffin to successfully secure his title defense in the Memorial Tournament and earn his third PGA Tour victory of the season.
Schaeffler took a one-shot lead on the final day at Muirfield Village and never abandoned the top spot. World No. won the final round of 70, closing off a four-shot victory, becoming the first player since Tiger Woods.
The three-time major champion mixed three birdies with one bogey to record a third victory in four starts from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and the PGA Championship, expanding his advantage at the top of both the world rankings and the FedEx Cup standings.
Griffin played alongside Schaeffler and was inside the shot in a big section of the final round. He double-bogees his penultimate hole and resumes his four-stroke.
Nick Taylor took fourth place ahead of Russell Henry and Maverick McNelley, and Ricky Fowler’s tied up seventh finish earned a spot in the open during the Open Qualifying Series next month.
Schaeffler will star again at the signature event
With the start of the Topsitterby, Schaeffler scrambled a par up and down from the first green to double his overnight lead.
Griffin had the fourth three-putt bogey card, but took advantage of the par 5, where Schaeffler missed a 4-foot birdie chance and continued his par 5.
Ben Griffin was looking for his third PGA Tour victory in six weeks
Schaeffler cut a hole from 7 feet to save the par on the sixth, claiming his first birdie of the day from close range on the next par 5.
The defending champion responded to starting the back nine with a bogey by rolling to birdie on the 11th of a par 5 from 15 feet, then grabbed full control of the tournament when Griffin didn’t move up and down the sand on par 3 and did not move up and down first Bosey’s first Bosey.
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The crowd had to get out of the way following a whimsical shot from Jordan Spieth in the final round at Muirfield Village
Schaeffler saved pars from 10 feet on the 14th and made a two-putt birdie on the 15th on the par 5. There, Griffin drilled a 12-foot Eagle holed, then drained a 30-foot birdie, jumping to two.
Griffin’s hope ended with a false drive with a par-4 17th and an early double bogey, before dropping him four behind as Schaeffler finished with consecutive pars to finish his 16th PGA Tour victory.
Griffin was disappointed with runner-up to Schaeffler
Scotty Scheffler: “There’s only one bogey around this place. I hit a lot of fairways. I definitely didn’t have much in the rough. I think I hit it with 10 rough, but other than that, I don’t really think I was in the rough.
Ben Griffin: “My putter was definitely not 100% there. I made it exciting for some holes at the end. Interesting, two years ago, three years ago, I’ll take this finish.
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Scotty Scheffler reflects on how important his memorial tournament victory and his family’s support are to victory
“I learn from some of the swings on stretches, I remember the good ones, and I bounce back and come back soon.
What’s next?
The PGA Tour heads to Ontario at the RBC Canada Open. Robert McInteal returns as defending champion, and Rory McIlroy is active for the first time since the PGA Championship. Early coverage comes ahead of full coverage at Sky Sports Golf from 11:45am to 11:45am to 8pm.
Schaeffler will take a week off and then perform a live performance at Sky Sports Golf on Thursday, June 12th at 12:30pm. Get Sky Sports or I’m streaming now.
