Jason Dufner bounced back from a poor third round to win the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village by three shots from Rickie Fowler and Anirban Lahiri.
Jason Dufner began the third round in the Memorial with a five shot lead after a pair of superb opening 65s. But he struggled through the third round, carding a 77. That disappointing score saw his five shot advantage turned into a four-shot deficit.
"Yesterday was not my best day," Dufner said of his 77. "But I had to get over it quick. It's a 72-hole tournament, there's a lot of things that can happen out there. I knew I was still in the mix."
Rickie Fowler got himself in contention but fell back with bogey at the 14th. Dufner then moved two clear with birdie at the 17th. After Dufner holed a long par putt on the 18th green, Fowler’s chance was gone and the title was secure for Dufner.
"I'm pumped to be in the mix again," Dufner said. "It's been a good year so far, but this has made it nice."
1 – This was a fifth PGA Tour title for Dufner. The 40-year-old who won the 2013 USPGA Championship will move to 13th on the FedEx Cup standings. In recent months the American had been struggling with his approach to the game so this victory marks quite a turnaround. "There's been times where I've kind of gone—fallen in and out of love with golf, to be honest with you, as a professional,” he said. “There's been a lot of struggles and a lot of setbacks. I didn't come straight out of college and play the PGA Tour. It took me almost ten years to get out here. Took me another two after that to win and actually get to where I felt comfortable.”
2 – Anirban Lahiri of India played a fine closing round of 65 to end the week tied second. After a poor spell, he’s feeling more positive about his chances of securing a place in the Presidents Cup. “Obviously, I want to be on the Presidents Cup team. I have unfinished business,” he said with reference to his three losses in the event in 2015.
3 – Jason Dufner is the first player since Nick Faldo at the 1989 Masters to bounce back from a third round 77 and win. Nobody in the Memorial had ever shot a 77 in a single round and won the tournament.
