Viktor Hovland defeated Denny McCarthy in a play-off to win the Memorial Tournament, his first victory in mainland USA, as Rory McIlroy suffered a disappointing remaining spherical in Ohio.
Hovland parred the primary further gap at Muirfield Village to win his fourth PGA Tour title – with the earlier three coming in Puerto Rico and Mexico (2) – after he and McCarthy had completed tied on seven beneath par.
The 25-year-old Norwegian had birdied the fifteenth and seventeenth to set the clubhouse goal following a closing 70 after which noticed McCarthy drop his first shot of the day on the 18th.
McCarthy then bogeyed the identical gap within the play-off to overlook out on a maiden PGA Tour win.
Hovland, who completed runner-up to Brooks Koepka within the US PGA Championship after a pricey double bogey on the sixteenth gap of the ultimate spherical, advised CBS: “It feels even better after a few close calls the last few months.
“I didn’t really feel like I hit it my best the whole week, I just played really smart, played conservatively, really relied on my short game and I putted awesome this week.
“It’s fun to win one of these things without just ball-striking it to death. Now I can kind of rely on some other strengths as well.”
Hovland and McCarthy completed a shot forward of world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, who surged via the sphere with a closing 67, regardless of rating lifeless final in placing of these gamers who made the lower.
McIlroy started the day in a tie for the lead and was out in entrance when he chipped in for birdie on the fourth, however bogeyed three of the following 4 holes on his solution to a 75 and a tie for seventh on three beneath par.
“I did what I wanted to do,” McIlroy mentioned. “I thought if I could stay patient and put my ball in play off the tee, which I did pretty much all day, I only hit it in the long rough once…
“I was in the first cut three times and then the rest of the time I was in the fairway. So I did what I wanted to do, I just missed a few shots and those two bogeys on the par fives on the front nine were unforced errors.
McIlroy’s challenge fell away
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“Once I was one over through nine holes and Denny was at eight under for the tournament, it’s hard to chase on that golf course the way it’s playing.
“I hit a couple of loose shots on the back nine that at least I know where they’re coming from, which is good, but it’s a step in the right direction.
“I feel a little better about everything compared to where I was a couple weeks ago at Oak Hill. So it’s obviously not the result that I wanted today, but I feel like there was a few more positives than there was a couple weeks ago.”
Two-time main winner Collin Morikawa, who was two off the lead heading into the ultimate spherical, withdrew shortly earlier than his tee time after struggling again spasms.
“We were doing some reflex stuff, trying to reach down and try to pick something up like quick and low,” Morikawa defined.
“I’ve hurt may back briefly before, but nothing has been this bad. I think it’s the first tournament I’ve ever withdrawn from in my entire life. It sucks because this is a tournament that I love.
“I’ve played well and put myself in contention. But I have to look out for myself and got to be smart.”
