DUBLIN, Ohio — Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf, began the third round of the Memorial with a three-shot lead. Despite facing challenging conditions at Muirfield Village, Scheffler managed to shoot a 1-under 71, extending his lead to four shots. While it may seem like everything went smoothly, the reality was quite different.
Scheffler encountered obstacles throughout the round. He hit a bunker shot that went over the green and into a creek, his tee shot on the ninth hole ricocheted off a tree and went out-of-bounds, and he finished with a three-putt bogey on the 18th hole.
Despite these challenges, Scheffler was able to maintain his position at the top of the leaderboard. With a total score of 10-under 206, he holds the largest 54-hole lead of his career. Collin Morikawa (68) and Adam Hadwin of Canada (72) are trailing behind with scores of 2010.
Reflecting on his performance, Scheffler expressed satisfaction, saying, “I played well. I had a few tough breaks, but that’s part of the game, especially on a course as challenging as this one. Overall, I feel like I had a solid round today.”
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Despite the setbacks, Scheffler responded with a birdie after each penalty shot, ensuring that he maintained his lead throughout the round. Morikawa, who will be paired with Scheffler in the final group, emphasized the challenges of the course and the need to deliver a strong performance in the final round.
Meanwhile, at the LIV Golf Houston event, David Puig of Spain emerged as one of the leaders after shooting a 6-under 66. However, the tournament no longer includes Jon Rahm, who withdrew due to an infected left foot.
As Puig, Carlos Ortiz, Adrian Meronk, and Paul Casey vie for the title, the competition remains intense. Ortiz, a winner of the Houston Open, is determined to secure another victory, while Puig aims to continue his success at the upcoming U.S. Open.
While the LIV Golf event may not contribute to Olympic qualification due to the lack of world ranking points, players like Puig and Casey are focused on delivering strong performances. Casey, who previously won the Houston Open on the same course, acknowledges the challenges of the tournament and remains determined to excel.
As the competition heats up, players like Martin Kaymer, a former U.S. Open champion, face tough challenges on the course. With the final round approaching, the battle for victory intensifies at both the Memorial and LIV Golf Houston.
