DUBLIN, Ohio — Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf, began the third round of the Memorial with a three-shot lead, managed to shoot a 1-under 71 on a challenging day at Muirfield Village, and extended his lead to four shots. It seemed like everything went smoothly.
However, Scheffler faced some obstacles during the round. He hit a bunker shot that went over the green and into a creek, his tee shot on the ninth hole veered left, hit a tree, and went out-of-bounds. Despite these challenges, he ended the day with a bogey on the 18th hole.
Despite these setbacks, Scheffler continued to build on his lead, finishing at 10-under 206 with the largest 54-hole lead of his career. Collin Morikawa (68) and Adam Hadwin of Canada (72) were at 2010.
Reflecting on his performance, Scheffler expressed his satisfaction, stating, “Yeah, I mean, I played well. Just had a couple of tough breaks, which can happen on this challenging course. Overall, I feel like I had a solid round.”
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Scheffler responded to his setbacks with a birdie after each penalty shot, maintaining his lead throughout the round. Morikawa, a past champion at Muirfield Village, will be in the final group with Scheffler.
Morikawa acknowledged the challenges of the course, stating, “This course is tough. You might see some holes as birdie opportunities, but if you miss the fairway, you’re fighting to save par.”
LIV: David Puig of Spain made a strong comeback with a 6-under 66 at LIV Golf Houston, where he joined a four-way tie for the lead going into the final round. Unfortunately, Jon Rahm had to withdraw due to an infected left foot, just days before the U.S. Open.
Puig was tied with Carlos Ortiz (68), Adrian Meronk (69), and Paul Casey (67) at 10-under 134. All four players are vying for their first LIV Golf title.
Puig, who is also set to play in the U.S. Open, led qualifiers in San Francisco, a crucial opportunity for him as he competes for a spot in the Olympics for Spain.
Despite the lack of world ranking points, Casey emphasized the competitiveness of the event, stating, “This golf course is challenging, and just because I’ve won here before doesn’t change anything.”
Martin Kaymer, the last U.S. Open champion at Pinehurst, faced some challenges during the round but remained in contention with a solid performance.
