Scottie Scheffler celebrates Memorial win with newborn son and wife Meredith in emotional scenes after ANOTHER PGA Tour triumph
Scottie Scheffler was greeted on the 18th green by his wife Meredith and their son Bennett, with the world number 1 recording his first victory since becoming a father.
In emotional scenes, Meredith handed Bennett over to Scheffler and said, “We are so proud of you!” So proud of you! Say ‘well done daddy, I love you!’. I am so proud of you!’
The world number 1’s family was waiting for him as he recorded a one-shot victory over Collin Morikawa despite a two-over-par round of 74 on Sunday.
It is the first tournament Scheffler has won since becoming a father, and also the first since police charges were dropped following his shock arrest during the PGA Championship in May.
“This tournament is very special for us, and it will remain so for a long time because of this moment,” Scheffler told Amanda Balionis. “It’s pretty amazing.”
Scottie Scheffler was greeted by his wife Meredith and son Bennett when he won Memorial
Scheffler and his family posed with Jack and Barbara Nicklaus after he lifted the trophy
It was the 27-year-old Scheffler’s first victory on the PGA Tour since becoming a father
It is Scheffler’s fifth PGA Tour victory this year, all since early March.
The tournaments he has won include a selection of the PGA Tour’s most prestigious: the Masters, the Players Championship and three signature events.
Wife Meredith was absent from the Masters and RBC Heritage wins due to how heavily pregnant she was. Scheffler said he would have left both tournaments to be by her side if she went into labor while he was competing.
The 27-year-old Texan will be one of the favorites at next week’s US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, where he will look to keep the drama on track.
Scheffler was arrested while heading to Valhalla Golf Club for his second round at the PGA Championship before being booked into jail on four criminal charges, including second-degree assault on a police officer.
Amid a traffic jam outside the club – following a fatal accident earlier that morning – the two-time Masters champion was accused of ignoring police orders to pull over his vehicle and driving away instead, leading Detective Bryan Gillis out Louisville was dragged to the ground, leaving him behind. with both minor cuts and torn pants.
All charges against him were eventually dropped, with Scheffler even considering taking legal action himself after his claim that the incident was simply one big misunderstanding was “borne out by the evidence.”
Scheffler didn’t have to do anything spectacular in the final round at Muirfield, who started with a four-stroke lead. After a bogey on No. 8, he scored pars on the next eight holes before getting a bogey on No. 17.
Scheffler will be the favorite for next week’s U.S. Open, held at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina
Golf’s No. 1 Scheffler is currently having a formidable year on the PGA Tour
Scheffler and Morikawa, who played in the final duo, headed to the final hole with just one shot between them.
Both hit their second shots over the green, and Morikawa’s birdie attempt from 45 feet away narrowly skated by, allowing Scheffler to make par to win.
Earlier, Scheffler had a chance to extend a one-shot lead at the 15th, but his putt for birdie clipped the cup and the ball stayed out.
“This is a tough place to close,” Scheffler said. “It was a fun golf test. I love it when things get this hard. I didn’t do anything great today, but I did enough.”
Morikawa was within one stroke until his third bogey of the round came at No. 16, when he was off the green after his first swing at the par-3 hole.
On the 17th, Scheffler was greenside after two shots at the par-4 hole, but he left his approach to the green significantly shorter than the hole and did not convert the par putt.