Jack Nicklaus had three-word message for Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler triumphed once again on Sunday in one of the year’s most demanding golf tournaments. The world No. 1 golfer captured the 2024 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, finishing 8-under to edge out Collin Morikawa by one shot. This tournament, hosted by the legendary Jack Nicklaus who designed the course and founded the Memorial in 1976, is known for being one of the toughest challenges in golf.

After Scheffler sank a critical five-foot downhill putt to clinch his victory, he received the customary handshake from Nicklaus. The 18-time major champion offered a succinct and heartfelt message to Scheffler: “You’re a survivor.” Scheffler, smiling, responded by acknowledging the difficulty of the course, saying, “You made this place brutal today.”

Scheffler entered the final round with a four-shot lead and managed to hold on despite shooting 2-over 74. On a challenging Sunday where only six players managed to score under par, Scheffler’s performance was enough to secure his fifth victory of the season.

This victory held special significance for Scheffler, who had narrowly missed a crucial putt on the 18th hole at the Memorial in 2021, costing him a shot at a playoff. At that time, Nicklaus had told him that he would make that putt someday, a moment that Scheffler never forgot.

In addition to his on-course resilience, Scheffler’s recent successes are particularly impressive given the off-course distractions he has faced, including an arrest in a bizarre incident. Despite these challenges, Scheffler has demonstrated remarkable composure and determination, further cementing his status as a true champion.