Pros advice

Bryson DeChambeau defeated Byeong-Hun An and Kyle Stanley in a playoff to win the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village.

What happened at The Memorial Tournament?

Bryson DeChambeau got the better of Byeong-Hun An in a playoff to win the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village.

At one point on Sunday, Patrick Cantlay had a two-shot lead, but three dropped shots on the back-nine meant he’d come up a shot short. Incidentally, his group was put on the clock halfway through the round.

DeChambeau and Kyle Stanley headed to the 18th tee tied for the lead, but DeChambeau’s approach found the green on the right-hand side and three-putted, while Stanley’s tee shot ricocheted off a tree into the thick rough. They’d both tie Byeong-Hun An – who made two birdies in the final four holes to shoot a 69 – to head to a playoff.

Kyle Stanley was the first to be eliminated thanks to a wretched bit of luck. Again, his tee shot on the 18th would find an awkward spot, where he advanced it a couple of yards in the rough. He found the bunker with his approach, and his par attempt hit the flag but didn’t drop.

And so DeChambeau and An headed to the 18th tee again. This time, An pulled his approach well long but hit a beautiful flop shot to close range but DeChambeau rolled in a 10-footer downhill for birdie to win his second PGA Tour title.

What a putt. 🏆
What a reaction. 💪@B_DeChambeau has claimed @MemorialGolf in a playoff!#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/LaoHfYlKsQ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 3, 2018

Talking point

As is normally the case, Tiger was the main draw this weekend.

When Woods holed out for eagle on Friday, it seemed as if he was readying himself for a charge at the leaders over the final two rounds.

Sure enough, Woods got off to a brilliant start on Saturday and at one point tied for the lead. From that point onwards, it all seemed to fizzle out, with the putter the main culprit.

In recent times, we’ve been accustomed to brilliant putting and poor ball striking from Woods, but his last few starts, this pattern has flipped.

Just look at these statistics from his performance this week:

Tiger Woods' field ranks this week:

SG Tee To Green: 1st
SG Approach Green: 1st
Proximity to hole: 1st
SG Putting: 2nd-to-last

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) June 3, 2018

Clearly, the putter held him back from winning for the sixth time at Muirfield Village this week.

This can only be a positive for Woods fans. Indeed, he is striking the ball as well as he ever has. His round on Friday, where he holed out for eagle and on the very next hole hit the flag with his tee shot, was one of the very best ball striking rounds of his career.

Surely Woods will sort his putting out sooner rather than later. And when he does, expect him to win again, because he is playing too well from tee-to-green not to.

Shinnecock Hills may just present the perfect opportunity.

Best quote

DeChambeau:

“I can’t believe I did it today. Just to be able to win his (Jack’s) event is such an honour.”