Scottie Scheffler bags fifth 2024 PGA tour title win at Memorial in Ohio, and sets his sights firmly on US Open

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has warmed up for next week’s US Open with his fifth victory of the year at the Memorial Tournament, but he was pushed all the way by fellow two-time major winner Collin Morikawa.

The pair enjoyed a tense battle down the stretch on Sunday, separated by no more than two shots, but it took a characteristic nerveless up and down from the back of the 18th green for Scheffler to close out a one-stroke victory with his opponent poised to force a playoff.

Scheffler’s fist pump after holing from inside five feet, becoming the fastest player to five wins in a season since Tom Watson in 1980, showed how much pressure he had been put under.

“It’s pretty amazing. I feel like I’ve had some close calls in this tournament,” the American, who remarked on a “pretty surreal moment” to shake the hand of tournament host Jack Nicklaus after victory, said in his post-round interview at Muirfield Village.

“This is a tough place to close it out as you saw today, the course is playing so tough: firm and fast.

“Sixteen, 17 and 18 were playing really tough. It was a fun test of golf and I like it when it is hard.

“I didn’t really do a whole lot great today but enough to get the job done.”

Scheffler began the day with a four-stroke lead but having gone to the turn in one-over his advantage was down to two. When he left his birdie putt short at the par-five 15th, Morikawa - who picked up another shot at the short 12th - had a six-footer to draw level on nine under but missed on the low side.

Scheffler holed a crucial par putt at the next to take a two-stroke lead after his playing partner bogeyed from a similar position in front of the green, only to hand it back at the next after coming up short with his approach.

Both players went long at the 18th but Scheffler, who had struggled on the greens all day, found a putt when he needed it for a two-over round of 74 to finish eight under.

Canada’s Adam Hadwin (74) was right there with them until closing with three straight bogeys to finish alone in third while Christiaan Bezuidenhout (72) of South Africa was a stroke back in fourth.

Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick shot a 69 to reach two under and take a share of fifth, while

Rory McIlroy’s preparations for Pinehurst did not go to plan. Starting the day out of contention eight off the lead the Northern Irishman shot a four-over 76 which left him two over in joint-15th.

Australia’s Jason Day (77) and Cam Davis (79) were also well off the pace at six and 13 over, respectively.