Matt Kuchar wins the Memorial Tournament

Matt Kuchar of the USA won the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, at Muirfield Village Golf Club, by two shots from countryman Kevin Chappell.

Kuchar played a solid final round of 68, missing just one fairway, to claim his sixth PGA Tour victory and his second of the season. He won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February.

It looked like Kuchar, who was runner-up last week at Colonial, would cruise home to victory. But Kevin Chappell made a late charge with three birdies in his last four holes.

Kuchar's lead was reduced to just two with one hole to play. But the 35-year-old played another excellent drive to find the fairway and followed with a safe shot onto the green, leaving a 20-foot, downhill putt. Chappell wouldn't give in however. He played a superb approach, setting up a sure birdie. It meant Kuchar needed two putts to secure the title.

With tournament host Jack Nicklaus watching, so too Kuchar's family, Kuchar's nerve held and he holed out for a birdie three and a two-shot win.

"There at the end it got scary," he said. "Kevin made a great run. But finishing off a tournament, winning the tournament, gives me a huge amount of confidence going into the US Open at Merion in two weeks."

Someone who won't be feeling so confident with the year's second Major looming is Tiger Woods. The World Number 1 finished a distant 65th, 20 shots behind Kuchar.

"It happens to us all," he said. "I'll go home next week and practice."

Rory McIlroy didn't do much better. The Northern Irishman was tied 57th on six-over-par.

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio May 30 - Jun 2, purse $6,200,000 par 72

1   Matt Kuchar (USA)   68   70   70   68   276   $1,116,000 2   Kevin Chappell (USA)   71   71   68   68   278   $669,600 3   Kyle Stanley (USA)   67   70   73   71   281   $421,600 T4   Bill Haas (USA)      68   67   76   71   282   $272,800 T4   Scott Stallings (USA)   70   70   75   67   282   $272,800 T6   Russell Henley (USA)   67   77   70   69   283   $215,450 T6   Matt Jones (Aus)      69   72   70   72   283   $215,450 T8   Brian Davis (Eng)      75   70   69   70   284   $167,400 T8   Pat Perez (USA)      72   69   72   71   284   $167,400 T8   Justin Rose (Eng)      70   70   71   73   284   $167,400 T8   Charl Schwartzel (RSA)   65   74   73   72   284   $167,400 T8   Michael Thompson (USA) 69   76   70   69   284   $167,400

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Where next? European Tour - Mikko Ilonen wins Nordea Masters