For your post Memorial Tournament consumption, these tidbits:
David Lingmerth may have been the player least likely to win The Memorial tournament Sunday, but he lingered, hung around then overcame the shaky Justin Rose on the third playoff hole.
Least likely? Sure, Lingmerth was head-to-head against Rose. That’s Lingmerth, No. 212 in the world, vs. Rose, No. 6. Linemerth, with no PGA Tour victories, Rose with seven and a U.S. Open title in there.
Didn’t matter. Lingmerth was a cool cookie in the playoff, made a super putt at the first playoff hole after Rose drained a 21-foot bomb. The former Arkansas golfer from Sweden then took his first title when Rose bogeyed the third playoff hole, the 10th. Lingmerth, who had $2.9 million in career earnings prior to this win, added a huge chunk to that with the $1.1 million-plus first place check.
Low round and biggest move of the day came from Jordan Spieth, who is certainly rounding into form going into the U.S. Open in two weeks. Spieth put up the day’s best round, a seven-under par 65 that earned him a tie for third with Francesco Molinari at 13-under par. “I thought if I played great I could shoot five-under,” Spieth said afterward. But he helped himself with an incredible shot at the par five 15th when he hit a one-foot flop shot that found it’s way down a severe slope and into the hole for an eagle three.
Defending champ Hideki Matsuyama was making a run but it came to a wet finish when he dunked his tee shot at the par three 16th into the water and made double-bogey. He finished tied for fifth at 12-under.
Rookie Tony Finau had the second best round of the day, a 67 that earned him a tie for eighth and another big payday.
Phil Mickelson tripped all over himself over the weekend with rounds of 78-75, showing that he’s certainly not ready for the U.S. Open. He’ll play this week in Memphis.
