Scottie Scheffler is making it look easy out at the Memorial. On a challenging course with gusty winds, the Masters champion pulled off a strong finish on Friday, carding a 4-under 68 to take a three-shot lead.
Scheffler’s play was particularly impressive on the par-5 15th hole. He hit a 3-iron into the wind, barely cleared a bunker, and let the ball ride the slope to within 8 feet for an eagle. He then closed with two solid par saves and a birdie from a fairway bunker on the last hole, giving him some breathing room.
With this performance, Scheffler stands at 9-under 135, three shots ahead of Viktor Hovland and Adam Hadwin. The Memorial is known for its tough field and significant $20 million purse, but the cut to the top 50 and ties after 36 holes has already sent home big names like Jordan Spieth, U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, and Rickie Fowler.
Scheffler seemed unfazed by the conditions, even during a rough patch early on the back nine when the wind was strongest. “I really just love competing out here, and I don’t really think about whether or not it’s easy or hard,” Scheffler said. “And some days I play good and some days I don’t. And outside of that, I’m just out here trying to compete.”
Hovland showed his growing confidence, playing bogey-free on the back nine, which included a shot from 181 yards to 2 feet for birdie. Hadwin, leading earlier, faced challenges late in his round with a double bogey on the 17th but still managed to stay three shots behind Scheffler.
Hadwin acknowledged the unpredictable conditions, saying, “I’ll be shocked if any other player said it was anything other than a guess. That’s all we’re doing. It’s just educated guessing, really. You try and control the ball flight to limit the amount the wind will affect it. That’s probably one of the biggest things that we can do out here.”
With a dry forecast expected, the course at Muirfield Village is likely to get even tougher over the weekend. Christiaan Bezuidenhout posted the day’s lowest round with a 67 and sits four shots back, alongside Keegan Bradley, who shot a 69. Ludvig Åberg, who spent two days watching Scheffler’s impressive play, ended five shots behind after a round of 72.
“He’s playing very, very good golf and it doesn’t look very difficult when he’s playing,” Åberg said. “But all I can do is try to keep up and make sure I’m not too far behind, I guess.” Åberg had his moments, including holing out from a bunker on the 17th, although he bogeyed the final hole.
Not to be outdone, PGA champion Xander Schauffele holed out from a bunker for birdie on the 14th during an otherwise challenging round of 73, leaving him six shots back along with Rory McIlroy, who posted a 71.
It’s been a good couple of days for those looking to qualify for the U.S. Open. Lee Hodges is tied for 20th and is the only player in the top 28 on the leaderboard not yet qualified for Pinehurst No. 2 next week, with five spots still available for late qualifiers.
Hadwin is also eyeing the final Olympic spot for Canada, which will be decided after the U.S. Open. Despite the stakes, Hadwin keeps his focus simple: “I am going to do my best to try and win a golf tournament. That’s it. That’s my sole focus.”
Catching up to Scheffler, however, may prove to be anything but easy.
Scottie Scheffler’s lead heading into the weekend sets up an exciting finish at the Memorial. While others, including Viktor Hovland and Adam Hadwin, are within striking distance, they’ll have to bring their A-game to catch up. Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion.
Source: Espn
