Viktor Hovland collected his fourth PGA Tour victory after taking the Memorial Tournament in a playoff over Denny McCarthy. The Norwegian returned to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour for the first time since claiming the 2021 World Wide Technology Championship. Staged at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio, it was the first time Hovland earned a PGA Tour title on US soil with his other three wins coming in Puerto Rice and twice in Mexico.
Hovland trailed McCarthy by two shots with two holes to play. The 25-year-old from Oslo buried a long-range birdie putt from 27 feet at the 17th hole to get within one shot of the lead. it was the only birdie of the day by the field. McCarthy, who was searching for his maiden PGA Tour win,
made his only bogey for the final round at the 72nd hole. It was his first dropped shot in 28 holes. Both players finished regulation play at 7-under after signing for a 2-under 70 on Sunday.
McCarthy struggled again at the 18th hole in the first playoff hole. The 30-year-old American, who missed the fairway with his drive, was unable to reach the green in regulation and went on to lip-out his par putt attempt. With the gaze of Jack Nicklaus looking on from the edge of the green, Hovland calmly stoked in his par putt from seven feet for victory.
Scheffler made the cut on the number at 3-over. The world No. 1 showed his class over the weekend producing rounds of 68 and 67 to reach 6-under and claim solo third place. The 26-year-old was the only player to break 70 on Sunday with his 5-under 67 eclipsing the field as the best score of the day by three shots. Scheffler has been a model for consistency this season scoring 10 top 5s from his 16 PGA Tour starts including two wins.
Korea’s Si Woo Kim birdied the final hole to claim outright fourth place at 5-under. The 27-year-old signed for a 1-over 73 on Sunday.
Andrew Putnam (70) and Jordan Spieth (71) claimed a share of fifth place at 4-under.
Rory McIlroy and David Lipsky began the final round in a share of the 54-hole lead with Kim. McIlroy faded out of contention with a 3-over 75 to finish T7 with Adam Schenk. Lipsky struggled for a 5-over 77 to fall back into a tie for 12th place.
Adam Scott, aged 52, was the only Australian to make the cut. The 14-time PGA Tour winner carded a final round 1-under 71 to get to 2-under and finish in a tie for 9th place. It was Scott’s third top 10 result this season.
Defending champion Billy Horschel crashed out of the tournament after his 12-over 84 opening round. The 36-year-old American admitted to suffering a crisis in confidence during his teary press conference with reporters.
The PGA Tour moves to Toronto for next week’s RBC Canadian Open to be staged at Oakdale Golf & Country Club. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is the defending champion.
Final Scores
the Memorial Tournament
1. Viktor Hovland -7
2. Denny McCarthy -7
3. Scottie Scheffler -6
4. Si Woo Kim -5
T5. Andrew Putman -4
T5. Jordan Spieth -4
T7. Adam Schenk -3
T7. Rory McIlroy -3
Australians
T9. Adam Scott -2
MC. Jason Day
MC. Lucas Herbert
MC. David Micheluzzi
MC. Cam Davis
Photo credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
