Scheffler Delivers Phenomenal Third-Round Surge to Take Memorial Tournament Lead

World No.1 finds his groove on tough day in Ohio to eye third win in four starts

On a day when Muirfield Village bared its teeth, Scottie Scheffler once again showed why he’s the man to beat in world golf. The 28-year-old Texan turned in a rock-solid, bogey-free 68 on Saturday to seize control of the Memorial Tournament, climbing from three shots back to lead the field by one going into Sunday’s final round.

In a third round that tested patience as much as precision, Scheffler kept his cool, delivered a clinical finish, and proved yet again that consistency is his most dangerous weapon. Birdies on four of the last five holes—14, 15, 17 and 18—helped him leapfrog overnight leader Ben Griffin and post an eight-under total heading into the final 18.

If there was ever a statement round at Jack’s Place, this might have been it.

Patience and precision as Scheffler stays mistake-free

Scheffler’s Saturday at Muirfield was less a fireworks display and more a slow-burning masterclass in course management. While many of the field found themselves scrambling to save pars or avoid disaster on the slick greens and punishing roughs of Muirfield Village, Scheffler played like a man entirely in control of his golf ball.

“I was definitely proud of the way I finished,” he said afterwards, standing beside the iconic clubhouse in Dublin, Ohio. “It was really challenging out there. Around this golf course, even par today would’ve been a pretty solid score.”

His scorecard remained spotless—13 straight pars followed by a ruthless closing stretch. It was a round that didn’t just display his talent, but also his temperament.

“I felt like I could’ve got a little bit more out of the round,” Scheffler added. “Just a couple lips here and there would’ve changed the score a little bit. But I felt like I was playing nice.”

On a layout where trouble lurks on every corner and where flag-hunting can quickly turn into a double bogey, Scheffler’s ability to play within himself and stay patient was crucial.

Griffin’s rollercoaster keeps him in the hunt

While Scheffler soared, Ben Griffin stumbled ever so slightly. The overnight leader carded a level-par 72, an up-and-down round littered with five birdies and five bogeys. Still, he’s just one back at seven under and remains firmly in the hunt heading into Sunday.

Griffin, who has yet to taste victory on the PGA Tour, didn’t look overawed by the moment, but his inconsistency left the door ajar for the world’s best to capitalise. That’s exactly what Scheffler did.

Nick Taylor, the Canadian who has been enjoying a fine season of his own, couldn’t quite keep pace either. A two-over 74 sees him fall to five under, three back of Scheffler. Shane Lowry of Ireland posted a gritty 73 and sits tied for seventh, still within striking distance but needing something special on Sunday.

Scheffler’s recent dominance shows no sign of slowing

Scottie Scheffler has flawless card and surges into lead at the Memorial

This latest surge is part of a remarkable run from Scheffler. Already the winner of The Players Championship and the Masters this year, he’s eyeing a third win from his last four starts and appears to be playing with a calm intensity that’s becoming his trademark.

The most impressive part of his form is how inevitable it all feels. Scheffler isn’t overpowering golf courses or producing highlight-reel moments on every hole. Instead, he’s grinding, staying composed, and quietly suffocating the leaderboard.

Even on a day where he didn’t hole every chance or dazzle with dramatic shot-making, his bogey-free round was a testament to how hard he is to beat when he’s dialled in.

Sunday showdown awaits with field still lurking

Despite Scheffler’s lead, the tournament is far from over. Griffin has shown he can go low, and Muirfield can flip in an instant. A few stray shots, a gust of wind, a tucked pin—and it’s anyone’s game again.

Nick Taylor, too, remains a threat. He’s trailed Scheffler in high-profile events before and has shown the mettle to close strong. Lowry, a former Open champion, will fancy his chances if he can find the putter that’s gone cold in recent weeks.

And let’s not forget that Muirfield Village, designed and run by Jack Nicklaus, rarely lets players cruise to the finish line. The final stretch is as demanding as any on Tour, and Sunday pressure often brings drama in spades.

Taylor: “I’ll have to play my best golf”

Nick Taylor, speaking after his round, knows exactly what kind of mountain he’s facing if he wants to challenge the world number one.

“I’ll be trying to chase him down,” Taylor said of Scheffler. “He’s obviously playing phenomenal, so I’ll have to play some of my best golf to be in the hunt there with the last few holes to go.”

That’s the respect Scheffler now commands. Even when others are playing well, he’s the benchmark.

Can anyone stop the Scheffler train?

As Sunday looms, the big question is whether anyone can match Scheffler’s current rhythm. He’s not just the most consistent player in the world—he’s becoming one of the most intimidating.

Calm, focused, quietly ruthless—Scheffler is setting a new standard for excellence. And at the Memorial, where legends are made, he’s positioning himself perfectly for yet another trophy.

If he finishes the job on Sunday, it won’t be with a fist-pump or roar of celebration. It will likely be with that same quiet nod and easy smile that’s come to define him.

Because when Scottie Scheffler is in this kind of form, all he needs to do is keep walking forward. The trophies tend to follow.