Scheffler Seizes Control at Muirfield Village as the Memorial Turns Brutal

Scottie Scheffler delivered another masterclass in composure and clutch play on Saturday at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. With punishing conditions and a formidable Muirfield Village layout taking its toll on the field, the world’s No. 1 golfer quietly ground out 13 straight pars before launching a late-round birdie blitz to card a 4-under 68. That performance vaulted him into the solo lead at 8-under 208, one stroke ahead of Ben Griffin.

Scheffler’s round underscored his growing reputation as golf’s most consistent force—unflappable, strategic, and ruthlessly efficient in the pressure moments that define elite players. On a day when the scoring average ballooned to nearly 74 and three players failed to break 80, Scheffler stood alone as the only golfer to post under-par rounds on all three days.

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“I felt like I was playing really well through 13, but I was still even par. That’s just the kind of test this course presents,” Scheffler said. “I was proud of how I stayed patient.”

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A Slow Burn, Then a Scorching Finish

Scheffler’s round came to life late, beginning with a 10-foot birdie at the 14th. A two-putt birdie on the par-5 15th followed, then a precise 7-iron into the wind left him 8 feet away for another. He closed with a confident birdie from just inside 15 feet on 18, capitalizing on a critical mistake from Griffin, who missed a short par putt.

That miss from Griffin not only cost him a share of the lead but may have shifted momentum firmly in Scheffler’s favor heading into Sunday. The Texan has won his last eight tournaments when holding the 54-hole lead—a daunting stat for any challenger eyeing a comeback.

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Griffin’s Rollercoaster: From Leader to Chaser

Ben Griffin’s Saturday round was an emotional and statistical rollercoaster. He reached 10-under par with three consecutive birdies mid-round, becoming the only player all week to hit double digits under par. But the momentum evaporated just as quickly. Four straight bogeys, including three from promising positions in the fairway or off the tee, sent him tumbling back toward the pack.

Griffin’s ball-striking remained solid, but mental lapses and errant execution on Muirfield’s most treacherous holes proved costly. His 73 leaves him a shot back at 7-under—a position that still offers hope, though chasing down Scheffler is no small task.

Griffin enters the final round just a week removed from his maiden PGA TOUR win at the Charles Schwab Challenge, a performance that vaulted him into the top tier of the FedExCup standings. Sunday’s outcome could further validate his rising-star status—or reinforce Scheffler’s stranglehold on the season.

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The Chasing Pack: Glimpses of Brilliance, But Gaps Remain

While Scheffler’s final surge and Griffin’s stumble drew the headlines, several others remain in contention—albeit needing something extraordinary to close the gap.

Jordan Spieth flirted with contention after matching Scheffler at 8-under momentarily, only to fall off late. A failed sand save on 17 and a drive into the creek on 18 led to a disappointing closing bogey and even-par 72. Spieth, now five back, spoke candidly about the mountain ahead.

“It’s tough to shoot a few under out here, and Scottie’s not the guy you count on stumbling,” he admitted. “It’ll take something special.”

Nick Taylor of Canada endured his own volatile stretch. After a double bogey at the par-3 12th and a bogey on 13, he pulled off a miraculous eagle from the fairway at 14, followed by a birdie at 15 to claw back into the mix. He sits three shots behind after a 74 and remains optimistic, knowing the course’s difficulty offers opportunities for big swings.

Sepp Straka recorded the round of the day with a 6-under 66. The two-time PGA TOUR winner posted his number early and sits in the group at 3-under 213, alongside Spieth and Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (68).

Further down the board, Patrick Cantlay and Rickie Fowler turned in respectable 69s to join Shane Lowry at 2-under, though overcoming Scheffler from six strokes back will require near-perfection.

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Scheffler’s Consistency Defining 2024

Scheffler’s continued dominance in challenging conditions this season has elevated him beyond just statistical superiority. His command of high-pressure situations, meticulous shot planning, and elite short game have solidified his role as the game’s alpha.

With victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship already under his belt in 2024, a win at Muirfield would mark his third title in four starts. More significantly, it would make him the only player besides Tiger Woods to successfully defend a Memorial title—further validation of his trajectory toward historical greatness.

According to Data Golf, Scheffler leads the TOUR in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green by a wide margin. That foundational strength, paired with improved putting metrics over the past few months, is closing the last gap in his game. Should his final-round performance echo Saturday’s resolve, another title seems likely.

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Sunday Setup: Risk-Reward Theater

Muirfield Village, a course reimagined by Jack Nicklaus to challenge the world’s best, is once again delivering on its promise. With firm fairways, penal rough, and quick, sloping greens, the course demands not only precision but discipline. It’s a track where one misstep can spiral into disaster—and one hot streak can vault a player into contention.

As Sunday looms, the players are not only chasing Scheffler but trying to manage the course itself. Momentum swings will be common, but history—and form—favor the leader.

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“It’s just a brutal test,” Taylor said. “But if I can get off to a hot start and stay clean, anything can happen out here.”

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With a deep and capable field, a grueling layout, and history on the line, the final round of the 2024 Memorial Tournament is set up for a dramatic conclusion. But as has so often been the case this season, the path to victory runs straight through Scottie Scheffler. And that’s a trail few have successfully followed.

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