Steve Stricker moved to number four on the Official World Golf Ranking with a one-stroke victory in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio.
Stricker had a four shot lead after nine holes of the final round after turning in 30, but his procession to the finishing line was not as serene as it might have been. A bogey at the 15th hole was followed by scrambled pars on the 16th and 17th - both times saved from sand.
He took a two-shot lead into the final hole and he needed the cushion as his drive found a fairway bunker and his approach missed the green. But he was able to secure a bogey and so, won by a single shot.
"It wasn't pretty," he said to tournament host Jack Nicklaus upon leaving the 18th green. Brandt Jobe and Matt Kuchar emerged as Stricker's closest challengers. Both fired closing 65s to finish on a total of 273. After completeing their rounds, both thought they might have a chance but, as Stricker kept finding pars, it became apparent they would come up just short.
"My five-under on the front didn't gain any ground on him," Kuchar said as Stricker was closing out his round. "It was tough to see. I got two more on the back and played great golf. But it looks like it's just not quite good enough."
Dustin Johnson was alone in fourth after he too posted a closing 65. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy ended the week in fifth place. World Number 1 Luke Donald continued his amazing run of top-10 finishes with a tie for seventh this week. It's now 10 consecutive tournaments in which the Englishman has placed inside the top-10.
The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance Muirfield Village Golf Club, Ohio June 2-5, purse $6,200,000, par 72 1 Steve Stricker (USA) 68 67 69 68 272 $1,116,000 T2 Brandt Jobe (USA) 71 68 69 65 273 $545,600 T2 Matt Kuchar (USA) 69 71 68 65 273 $545,600 4 Dustin Johnson (USA) 68 73 70 65 276 $297,600 5 Rory McIlroy (NIR) 66 72 71 68 277 $248,000 6 Gary Woodland (USA) 72 69 69 68 278 $223,200 T7 Luke Donald (Eng) 70 69 73 68 280 $174,117 T7 John Senden (Aus) 71 70 71 68 280 $174,117 T7 Webb Simpson (USA) 72 70 70 68 280 $174,117 T7 Kevin Streelman (USA) 74 68 72 66 280 $174,117 T7 Jonathan Byrd (USA) 71 67 69 73 280 $174,117 T7 Mark Wilson (USA) 70 73 66 71 280 $174,117
Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only
Where next? European Tour: Noren wins in Wales
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