Scottie Scheffler Drops Jack Nicklaus Story After Winning 2024 Memorial Tournament

World number one Scottie Scheffler secured his fifth PGA Tour victory in just eight starts by winning the 2024 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village. The 27-year-old golfer clinched his 14th PGA Tour title with a one-stroke victory after a challenging battle with his Ryder Cup teammate.

Scheffler began the final round with a four-stroke lead over Sepp Straka and Collin Morikawa. Despite a tough final round of two-over 74, which brought him to eight-under par, he managed to hold off the competition. Reflecting on his victory, Scheffler shared a special moment from his past: “I remember shaking Mr. Nicklaus’s hand a few years ago here, and he told me I didn’t make the putt today, but one day I’d make the putt and be able to shake his hand as a winner. He was right. It was a pretty surreal moment to shake his hand as a champion here. I’m honored.”

The final day was a testament to Scheffler’s resilience on a course known for its difficulty. “I feel like I’ve had some close calls in this tournament,” Scheffler told Amanda Balionis. “This is a tough place to close out. As you saw today, the golf course was playing so tough.”

While Scheffler faced challenges, including bogeys on the fourth and eighth holes, his competitors seized the opportunity to close the gap. Morikawa’s impressive 32-foot birdie putt on the 12th brought him closer, but Scheffler’s crucial 15-foot par save on the 16th hole proved decisive, as Morikawa could only manage a bogey. “16, 17, and 18 were playing brutally tough,” Scheffler added. “It was a fun test of golf, and I like it when it gets this hard. It was good to battle it out. I didn’t do a whole lot great today, but I did enough to get the job done.”

Elsewhere in the tournament, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Aberg, and Xander Schauffele finished in the top 10. Rory McIlroy ended in a tie for 15th with Viktor Hovland after shooting a four-over 76, while England’s Tommy Fleetwood secured a 20th-place finish.

Scheffler now sets his sights on the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No.2, aiming for his third major championship. Given his current form, he is the clear favorite to win the third men’s major of the year.