Viktor Hovland defeated Denny McCarthy in a one-hole playoff and secured his second victory of the season at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio.
Thanks to a two-putt par from nearly 60 feet, Viktor Hovland held off Denny McCarthy. McCarthy was seeking his first-ever PGA Tour win and fell just short during the first playoff hole.
During the first two rounds of the tournament, Oklahoma State graduate Viktor Hovland flew under the radar, shooting back-to-back rounds of 1-under par. In the third round, Hovland stepped it up and carded an all-important 3-under par. This showing placed him within striking distance of the lead.
After playing steady golf, Viktor recorded a 2-under par to end his tournament. Hovland has now recorded five top-five finishes this season. His other most notable performances include his win at the Hero World Challenge and his second-place finish at the PGA Championship.
As the final round of the Memorial kicked off, all eyes were on the world’s third-ranked golfer, Rory McIlroy. McIlroy recorded a 4-under and 2-under in rounds two and three. These scores put him in an ideal position heading into Sunday. During the final round though, Rory did not have his best stuff and shot a 3-over 75. McIlroy ended the day tied for seventh place with Adam Schenk.
Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, also piqued the curiosity of the gallery. After two rough rounds to start the tournament, Scheffler battled back hard. He carded a 4-under par on day three and followed with 5-under par on Sunday. Scottie ended the tournament in solo third place.
What changes were made to the Memorial Tournament 2023?
This edition of the Memorial Tournament featured a $20 million purse. This is an $8 million increase from last year. The PGA Tour has added events and increased purse sizes in order to remain competitive due to the introduction of LIV Golf.
Last year, Billy Horschel won the Memorial and secured a $2.16 million payout. This year, champion Viktor Hovland’s share of the purse will be $3.6 million.
When is the next tournament?
The next tournament on the PGA Tour is the RBC Candian Open. The RBC will be played at Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Etobicoke, Ontario, and will feature a purse of $9 million.
The 2022 RBC Candian Open was won by Rory McIlroy who shot a 19-under 261. Tony Finau and Justin Thomas placed second and third respectively.
The most popular names in this year’s field include McIlroy, Sam Burns, Matt Fitzpatrick and Cameron Young.
Stay tuned for more PGA content including tournament previews, recaps and any breaking news!
Featured image courtesy of PGA Tour
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