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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Scottie Scheffler looking to close out another PGA Tour win, tees off at 2:05 p.m.
Scottie Scheffler looking to close out another PGA Tour win, tees off at 2:05 p.m. The best golfer in the world went the first 13 holes of the third round of the Memorial Tournament without making a birdie. Scottie Scheffler wasn't concerned. Muirfield Village Golf Club was playing particularly difficult, at least until the wind subsided late in the round. 'I thought I was doing pretty good,' Scheffler said. 'Around this golf course, even-par would have been a pretty solid score.' More: Memorial Tournament 2025: Ultimate fan guide to tickets, dates and yellow ribbons Solid might be good enough for most golfers. Scheffler is beyond solid. It felt like a matter of time before the world's top-ranked player got on a roll, and Scheffler did just that. He birdied four of the last five holes. He capped the charge by reading the sharp break on a 13-foot putt on the 18th hole. When second-round leader Ben Griffin bogeyed the final hole minutes later, Scheffler became the third-round leader. It was the first time in 19 rounds at the Memorial that Scheffler didn't have a bogey. Before Scheffler's charge, Griffin had one that threatened to leave the field in the dust. He birdied three straight holes on the front nine to take a five-shot lead on the field and six over Scheffler. Watch the Memorial Tournament with a Fubo free trial 'I did see that Ben got to 10 under, but it's not going to change my play in the middle of a Saturday,' Scheffler said. 'This golf course is really challenging, and no lead is safe around this place. I knew if I kept going and played a decent round, I would be in somewhat of a position to chase him down tomorrow. 'If he's sitting there at 10 under and he gets to 12 or 13, there's not much I can do about that, so it's not really going to change my mindset trying to get to 12 under when I'm sitting at 4.' More: Journalism honoree Bob Baptist saw it all over 37 Memorial Tournaments Scheffler started his birdie binge at No. 14 with a 10-footer. He narrowly missed getting an eagle on the par-5 15th hole. Scheffler missed making a birdie on No. 16 by 9 inches before making an 8-footer on No. 17. 'I just hit a lot of really good shots down the stretch, from 13 on and gave myself a lot of good looks and was able to hole some,' he said. He did so despite challenging pin placements. 'Where the pins were today," Scheffler said, "there was so much break around the cup, and I felt like when I was putting from 20 feet along the front nine, I'm playing 3 feet of break sometimes.' A week ago, Griffin won the Charles Schwab Challenge after fending off a charge by Scheffler. The two were born two months apart in 1996 and played junior events together. 'I've known him a long time,' Scheffler said. 'He always had a lot of talent.' But Scheffler's talent is at a different level. Jordan Spieth said Scheffler's club-face control might be the best the tour has ever seen. 'Obviously, Scottie Scheffler's the best player in the world, but No. 1 can be beat,' Griffin said. If Scheffler does prevail, he'll join Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back Memorial champions. 'It would be nice, but last year's tournament is last year's tournament,' Scheffler said. 'It doesn't matter going into this year. I've got an opportunity to have a good round and hopefully win the tournament. I'll be focused on the first tee and trying to get that ball in play and going from there.'
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Jack Nicklaus Speaks Out on Rory McIlroy's 'Surprise' No-Show at Memorial
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Rory McIlroy's decision to skip the Memorial Tournament has been the talk of the town in the days leading up to the event. This decision has raised eyebrows for many reasons, including the fact that the tournament is hosted by the legendary Jack Nicklaus. Who better than the 18-time major champion himself to discuss what McIlroy's absence means to him as the organizer of the tournament? During his regular pre-event press conference, Nicklaus addressed the issue and downplayed the Northern Irishman's absence in the field. "Yeah, it surprised me," Nicklaus acknowledged. "But, you know, guys have got schedules and got things they do. And, you know, I haven't talked to him for him to tell me why or why not." "It's just his call. I made a lot of calls that I had to make when I played to play or not play, and sometimes it wasn't as popular as people thought it was. But, you know, sometimes you have to make those calls." Jack Nicklaus shakes hands with Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland on the 18th green during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 04, 2023 in... Jack Nicklaus shakes hands with Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland on the 18th green during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 04, 2023 in Dublin, Ohio. MoreNicklaus also shared his thoughts on why McIlroy chose not to play at Muirfield and expressed understanding of the situation. "I don't hold anything against Rory for that. He did what he likes to play. I know he likes to play so many in a row. He likes to play the week before a U.S. Open. And so he, that's what he's doing." "So, you know, I really don't have a comment on it. It's very difficult, very difficult. I mean, I'm a big Rory fan, I always have been. I'm sure that I will remain that way. I just, I was a little surprised, yes." The six-time Masters Tournament winner wasn't the only one surprised by McIlroy's decision. He didn't play the previous week, the Memorial Tournament is a Signature Event with one of the highest payouts on tour, and is also hosted by Nicklaus, all elements considered more than enough reason for the Northern Irishman not to miss Muirfield. 🚨❌📲 #NO CALL — Jack Nicklaus says Rory McIlroy never called him to say he wasn't playing the memorial this week. @TrackingRory Should Rory have called Jack? (Via: @HolgateRegan) — NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) May 27, 2025 This was also surprising because the Memorial Tournament has been a regular stop on McIlroy's schedule. The five-time major champion has played in 13 Memorial Tournaments, achieving five top-10 finishes, with his best result being fourth place in 2016. He didn't miss a single edition from 2018 to 2024. It's also impossible not to notice that McIlroy hasn't spoken to the press since his driver was controversially declared non-conforming in the days leading up to the PGA Championship two weeks ago. He was expected to address the issue at Muirfield. Several days ago, McIlroy announced that he would skip the Memorial Tournament and instead attend next week's RBC Canadian Open. That event, which will take place at TPC Toronto, is the final PGA Tour stop before the U.S. Open, the third major of the season. More Golf: John Daly Beating Tiger Woods Hung Over Viral Video Resurfaces
