Scottie Scheffler was greeted on the 18th green by his wife Meredith and son Bennett, and the world number one recorded his first victory since becoming a father.
In emotional scenes, Meredith handed Bennett to Scheffler and told him: ‘We are so proud of you! I’m very proud of you! Say ‘Way to go, Dad, I love you!’ I am so proud of you!’
The world No. 1’s family was waiting for him as he cruised to a one-stroke victory over Collin Morikawa, despite shooting a two-over-par round of 74 on Sunday.
It is the first tournament Scheffler has won since becoming a father and also the first since police charges were dropped following his surprising arrest at the PGA Championship in May.
“This tournament is very special to us and will be for a long time because of this moment,” Scheffler told Amanda Balionis. ‘It’s pretty amazing.’
Scottie Scheffler was greeted by his wife Meredith and son Bennett when he won the Memorial.
Scheffler and his family posed with Jack and Barbara Nicklaus after he lifted the trophy.
It was the 27-year-old Scheffler’s first victory on the PGA Tour since becoming a father.
It is Scheffler’s fifth victory on the PGA Tour this year, all since early March.
The tournaments he has won are a sample of the most prestigious on the PGA Tour: the Masters, the Players Championship and three emblematic events.
His wife Meredith was absent from the Masters and RBC Heritage wins due to her advanced pregnancy. Scheffler said he would have abandoned any of the tournaments to be at her side if she had gone into labor while he was competing.
The 27-year-old Texan will be one of the favorites at the US Open next week at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, where he will try to keep the drama on the course.
Scheffler was arrested while en route to Valhalla Golf Club for his second round at the PGA Championship, before being jailed on four criminal charges, including second-degree assault on a police officer.
In the middle of a traffic collision outside the club, following a fatal accident that morning, the two-time Masters champion was accused of ignoring police orders to stop his vehicle and instead speeding away, which He dragged Louisville Detective Bryan Gillis to the ground and abandoned him. with minor cuts and torn pants.
All charges against him were eventually dropped, and Scheffler even considered taking legal action himself after his claim that the incident was simply a huge misunderstanding was “corroborated by the evidence.”
Scheffler didn’t have to do anything spectacular in the final round at Muirfield, which began with a four-stroke lead. After a bogey on the 8th hole, he scored pars on the next eight holes before a bogey on the 17th hole.
Scheffler will be the favorite next week for the US Open, which will be held at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.
Scheffler, number one in the world of golf, is currently enjoying a formidable year on the PGA Tour
Scheffler and Morikawa, forming the final pair, reached the final hole just one stroke apart.
Both made their second shots over the green, and Morikawa’s attempt at birdie from 45 feet just missed, allowing Scheffler to make par to win.
Earlier, Scheffler had a chance to extend a one-stroke lead on the 15th hole, but his birdie putt clipped the cup and the ball was out.
“This is a tough place to close,” Scheffler said. ‘It was a fun test of golf. I like it when it gets this difficult. “I didn’t do very well today, but I did enough.”
Morikawa was one stroke away until his third bogey of the round came on the 16th hole, when he was off the green after his first swing on the par-3 hole.
On the 17th, Scheffler was on the green after two shots on the par-4 hole, but left his approach to the green considerably short of the hole and failed to make the par putt.
