Scottie Scheffler extended his lead at the Memorial Tournament to four shots, even though he marked a triple bogey during his third round. Seeking his fifth victory in this season, the world’s top player began the day having a three-shot lead, which he managed to maintain up until the ninth tee at Muirfield Village. He ended his walk on the green viewing his advantage being diminished due to an out-of-bounds drive leading to a seven. Nonetheless, three birdies on the back nine gave him a 71, reinstating his 10-under-par cushion despite an additional shot dropped on the final round because of his initial three-putt in 154 holes.
Scottie confessed that he wished he could redo the 18th, yet he believes overall his play was fairly good. He said, “I received a couple [of] unfortunate breaks, but such events are common on this golf course.” Adam Hadwin remained his most significant threat during much of the day after his remarkable eagle on the par-five fifth. However, with a double bogey on the 14th and a further dropped shot at the end, he was grouped with three others four shots behind the lead.
Hadwin admitted, “Indeed, it could be difficult when you give a four-shot lead to the world’s best player, I’m not entirely sure I stand a chance tomorrow,” as he’s been seeking his first win over the past seven years. American golfer Collin Morikawa and Austria’s Sepp Straka stood abreast with the Canadian on six-under-par, each having a bogey-free 68 round, leading US PGA champion Xander Schauffele and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg by two shots.
Despite a third round of 73, Rory McIlroy is only two under, eight shots off the front pace while Ireland’s Shane Lowry is ahead by one, after a round of 68. After tying with McIlroy’s 73, Séamus Power sits at an even par. Viktor Hovland, the current champion, saw his attempt to defend his title came undone following four consecutive bogeys and a double-bogey on the last nine leading to a 77.