The era of Scottie Scheffler continues its relentless course. The World Number One leaves no stone unturned. Now it has been at the Memorial Tournament. In the house of Jack Nicklaus. Another legend. Adjectives and bibs are running out. Victory with a four-shot lead over the runner-up. Scheffler started at eight under par, delivered a card of 70 strokes as if tying his shoes, and won the tournament by a landslide, almost without getting his hands dirty. At least, that’s how this golf beast makes it seem.
It really wasn’t like that. It wasn’t a walk in the park. Mainly because at Muirfield Village, with greens like marble and the rough brushing your calves, it’s never easy. And because Ben Griffin (-6) was a more than worthy opponent. He clung to Scottie’s wheel as if his life depended on it, but ended up blowing up at two moments. First with two consecutive bogeys on holes 12 and 13. And then with a double bogey on the 17th. That’s what happens when you’re out of rhythm. Scheffler doesn’t get off the saddle, but he breaks you.
Not always, but sometimes statistics explain everything, or almost everything. Scottie was the best in the tournament from tee to green, the best in approach shots, and the best in recoveries. Moreover, he putted more than well in this final round. He made a very good par putt on the 1st, another on the 6th, and one more, even longer, on the 9th. Clearly, it’s impossible. It’s true that he also missed a birdie putt of barely a metre on the 5th. His ball had to end up next to a tree on the 10th, without a stance for a full swing, to make the first and only bogey of the day. And he still left himself a putt of about four metres that didn’t go in to save par.
The tournament was decided in the next three holes. Scheffler made a birdie on the 11th and two pars on the 12th and 13th, while Griffin, who had reached that point just one shot behind the big favourite, missed a clear birdie chance on the 11th, closer than Scheffler, and linked two consecutive bogeys. Four shots difference. The End. Griffin still tried with a magnificent eagle on the 15th, got within two, but it was like when you see those engines moving the cylinders at maximum speed and you wonder when it’s going to blow up…
Scheffler adds the third victory of the season. All by four or more shots difference. He defends the title at the Memorial, something that had only been within the reach of Tiger Woods. He shook hands with Nicklaus at the foot of the 18th green, as tradition dictates at the Memorial, while the great Golden Bear grabbed his right shoulder with the other hand, as if feeling him, trying to find out if he’s made of the same material as the rest of the golfers.
In the last 30 years, only two players have successfully defended more tournaments than Scheffler on the PGA Tour. One is Tiger Woods, who did it 23 times. The other is Phil Micklelson (infinitely better player than forecaster), who achieved it on five occasions. Scottie already has three.
We are in the reign of Scheffler and we’ll see where it takes us. The next stop is the US Open and it makes one chuckle.
Sepp Straka (-5) finished in third place and Nick Taylor (-4) was fourth. Rickie Fowler has earned the spot for the Open Championship that was up for grabs at the Memorial.
