PGA TOUR
the Memorial Tournament
Horschel Receives The Golden Handshake From Jack
Billy Horschel gained his seventh PGA Tour title after winning the Memorial Tournament at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio. And, the stunning four-shot victory scored the Floridian the customary embrace with The Golden Bear walking off the final green.
Horschel’s previous individual stroke play victory on the PGA Tour was five years ago at the 2017 AT&T Byron Nelson. Regardless of that fact, the world No. 17 has enjoyed success all the same. On the PGA Tour, he won the 2018 Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Team event) with partner Scott Piercy and last year he collected the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, Plus, Horschel claimed the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship in September last year.
Playing in his 293rd PGA Tour event, Horschel entered the final round with the solo 54-hole lead for the second time in his PGA Tour career. He held a five-shot lead over fellow American Aaron Wise and Australian Cameron Smith after producing a stunning bogey-free 7-under 65 on Saturday. His lead was narrowed to two shots over Wise after 12 holes on Sunday. Then, Horschel’s putter got hot! The 35-year-old holed clutch par saves from 11 feet and 8 feet at the 13th and 14th holes before bombing an eagle attempt from 53 feet for an eagle at the par 5, 15th hole. The long-range hole out sealed the win giving him a four-shot lead with three holes to play. Horschel produced rounds of 70, 68, 65 and 72 to reach 13-under.
Wise carded a final round 1-under 71 to get to 9-under for solo second place. The 25-year-old was hoping to gain his second PGA Tour title after winning the 2018 AT&T Byron Nelson.
Patrick Cantlay was looking to join Tiger Woods as the only player to successfully defend his title at Jack’s Place. The 30-year-old, who won in 2019 and 2021, was also hoping to join Kenny Perry and Woods as the only players to win the event three times or more. The reigning FedExCup champion carded a final round 1-under 71 to reach 7-under and finish in a tie for third place with Joaquin Niemann. Niemann became the first player from Chile to win on the PGA Tour at the 2019 A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier. The 23-year-old star-in-the-making closed with a 1-under 71.
Cameron Smith headed a 10-player contingent from Australia. The 28-year-old was trying to become the first golfer to win The PLAYERS and the Memorial Tournament in the same year since Tiger Woods in 2001. In six previous appearances at Muirfield Village, Smith made the cut just twice and finished outside the top 60 on both occasions. His best round was a 71. The now world No. 3 opened with rounds of 67 and 69 to reach 8-under and lead the event at the halfway mark. Smith shot an even par third round to start the final round five shots behind Horschel and in a tie for second place. Smith was unable to contend for his third title of the season after covering the front nine in six over. The gritty Queenslander bounced back with an eagle at the par 5, 15th hole. Smith signed for a final round 5-over to drop back to a 3-under tally and finish in a tie for 13th place.
The PGA Tour moves to Toronto for the RBC Canadian Open staged at St George’s Golf & Country Club. Rory McIlroy is the defending champion.
Final Scores
the Memorial Tournament
1. Billy Horschel -13
2. Aaron Wise -9
T3. Joaquin Niemann -7
T3. Patrick Cantlay -7
T5. Daniel Berger -6
T5. Max Homa -6
T5. Will Zalatoris -6
T5. Denny McCarthy -6
T5. Sahith Theegala -6
Australians
T13. Cameron Smith -3
31. Jason Day E
T48. Lucas Herbert +4
T53. Cam Davis +6
T67. Adam Scott +11
MC. Marc Leishman
MC. Matt Jones
MC. Min Woo Lee
MC. Curtis Luck
MC. Jed Morgan
Photo credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
