Scottie Scheffler (-8) has won the Memorial Tournament after signing off with a tight final 74 at a relentless, tough to crack Muirfield Village (Dublin, Ohio). It’s his fifth victory of the season, yes, but perhaps the data is even more overwhelming when viewed this way: in the last eight tournaments he has played, he has won five, finished second in two others and, what a disaster, finished eighth in another…
The Texan had to suffer today, just like the rest, on a course that left absolutely no margin for error, no matter how small, with the firmest greens. The technical and mental challenge was huge, as it will surely be this coming week in Pinehurst. Only eleven players have beaten the course in the cumulative of the four rounds and only six have handed in cards below par this Sunday… Well, that: records of a US Open in the old style.
One of these six brave men, moreover, was marching in the star match and managed to push the World Number One to the limit, to the point where the tournament was decided on the 72nd hole and on the last putt. Collin Morikawa (-7, round of 71 strokes), who we are talking about, can feel more than satisfied, as there are not many who can look Scheffler in the face until the final whistle. That Scheffler arrives at the US Open as the main favourite to win is not news, but from now on Morikawa’s name should be added to the list and a privileged place reserved for him, because the Californian, as we pointed out just yesterday, continues to send out fantastic signals. It’s Scheffler’s time, it’s Scheffler’s era, but both, Scottie and Collin, let’s not forget, will set out next Thursday in search of their third Major.
The question that still has no answer is not, for obvious reasons, less interesting: how long is Scheffler capable of exercising such dominance? It simply seems unlikely that the winning streak will go much further, but on the other hand it is impossible to rule out this player as long as his performance does not show clear signs of decline. Right now that is not the case, of course. Today he signed a 74, it’s true, but it’s also true that he was seen in reasonable control of the situation, despite the tight spots. He has left some good opportunities on the way, but he has also holed decisive and delicate par putts. The last one, not to go any further, from just over a metre and downhill on the 18th at Muirfield Village, shortly before shaking hands with a delighted Jack Nicklaus who was happy to include in the honours list the name of this legendary player.
