Scottie Scheffler Overcomes Triple Bogey to Extend Lead at Memorial Tournament

Scottie Scheffler Overcomes Triple Bogey to Extend Lead at Memorial Tournament

Muirfield Village, Dublin, OH – In a dramatic third round at the Memorial Tournament, Scottie Scheffler managed to extend his lead to four strokes, despite a nerve-wracking triple bogey. The world number one, eyeing his fifth win of the season, began the day with a three-stroke lead, which he maintained through the front nine until a disastrous turn of events on the ninth hole threatened to derail his efforts.

Scheffler’s troubles began with a drive out of bounds, leading to a seven on the scorecard and a sudden evaporation of his advantage. As he walked off the green, his once-secure lead had vanished, a stark reminder of the relentless challenges posed by Muirfield Village. However, displaying the resilience that has marked his season, Scheffler clawed his way back with three birdies on the back nine, carding a 71 to reclaim a solid position at 10-under-par. This remarkable recovery included a setback on the final hole, where he registered his first three-putt in 154 holes, resulting in a dropped shot.

“Obviously, I wish I could have 18 back, but overall I think I played pretty solid,” Scheffler reflected after his round. “Just got a couple bad breaks and it’s going to happen around this golf course.”

For much of the day, Canadian Adam Hadwin appeared to be Scheffler’s closest challenger. Hadwin’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-five fifth, but his momentum was halted by a double bogey on the 14th and another dropped shot on the final hole. These stumbles left him in a trio tied at six-under-par, four strokes behind Scheffler.

“I don’t know if I have a chance tomorrow,” said Hadwin, who is in pursuit of his first victory in seven years. “You know, you give four shots to the best player in the world, it’s kind of difficult.”

Joining Hadwin at six-under-par were American Collin Morikawa and Austria’s Sepp Straka, both of whom turned in bogey-free rounds of 68. They are two strokes ahead of US PGA champion Xander Schauffele and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg.

Rory McIlroy’s hopes for a comeback took a hit as he finished the third round with a 73, putting him eight strokes off the lead. He is one stroke ahead of Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who posted an impressive 68. England’s Tommy Fleetwood and defending champion Viktor Hovland also faced challenges; Hovland’s hopes unraveled spectacularly with four successive bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine, resulting in a disappointing 77.

As the final round approaches, all eyes will be on Scheffler to see if he can maintain his lead and secure yet another victory in what has been a stellar season. The pressure is immense, and the competition fierce, but if his performance thus far is any indication, Scheffler has both the skill and the mental fortitude to emerge victorious.

Stay tuned as the drama unfolds at Muirfield Village, where every swing, every putt, and every moment could determine the champion of the Memorial Tournament.