Rain-Out at Memorial - Title to Shark
Greg Norman shot an even-par 216 for 54 holes to win the rain-shortened Memorial Tournament by one shot over Payne Stewart and earn $180,000, in Dublin, Ohio.
Ferocious weather at Muirfield Village Golf Club made a full 72 holes impossible, thus setting up a final-round sprint between Norman and Fred Couples.
Norman and Couples were tied for the lead on the final tee when Couples’ tee shot drifted astray. After a thorough search, his ball could not be found, presumed to have ended up in a water hazard lining Muirfield’s 18th fairway. Couples was forced to return to the tee and ultimately suffered a double bogey.
Couples posted a 3-under 69 in the cold, gale conditions Thursday, the only sub-par score in the first round. However, he surrendered a four-shot lead on the final nine holes by coming home in 41. That relegated the easy-going American to a share of third place at 2-over-par.
At the midway point Couples held the lead by one. Norman was fourth, chasing Mark Brooks and Don Pooley. Stewart, the eventual runner-up, pushed Norman to the finish as they matched second and third round totals.
More than two inches of rain fell during the week, and the course simply became waterlogged and thus unplayable. That forced tournament officials to cancel Sunday’s final round.
The Jack Nicklaus-designed course is a challenging second-shot venue that traditionally suits the long drivers. However, the weather provided only limited opportunities for big hitters to demonstrate their power this week.