Viktor Hovland defeated Denny McCarthy in a tiebreaker to win the Memorial Tournament while Rory McIlroy suffered a disappointing final round in Ohio.
Hovland holed up on the first extra hole at Muirfield Village to win his fourth PGA Tour title after he and McCarthy finished level at seven under par.
The 25-year-old Norwegian had birdied on the 15th and 17th to set the clubhouse target after a closing 70 and then watched McCarthy take his first shot of the day on the 18th.
McCarthy then bogeyed the same hole in the playoff to miss out on a first PGA Tour victory.
Hovland, who finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka at the US PGA Championship after a costly double bogey on the 16th hole of the final round, told CBS: “It feels even better after a few close calls. in the last few months.
“I didn’t really feel like I was at my best all week, I just played really smart, played conservative, really trusted my short game and played amazing this week.
“It’s fun to win one of these things without just beating it to death. Now I can also rely on other strengths.”
Hovland and McCarthy finished a shot ahead of world number 1 Scottie Scheffler, who tore through the field with a closing 67, despite ranking last among players to make the cut.
McIlroy started the day tied for the lead and was in front when he birdied the fourth, but bogeyed three of the next four holes on his way to 75 and a tie on the seventh at 3-under.
“I did what I wanted to do,” McIlroy said. “I thought if I could be patient and put my ball in play off the tee, which I did most of the day, I would only hit it once in the long rough.
“I was in the first cut three times and then the rest of the time I was on the street. So I did what I wanted to do, I just missed a few shots and those two bogeys on the par fives of the front nine were unforced errors.
“Once he was one up through nine holes and Denny was eight down for the tournament, it’s hard to chase him on that course the way it’s being played.
“I hit a couple of loose shots on the back nine that at least I know where they came from, which is good, but it’s a step in the right direction.
“I feel a little better about everything compared to where I was a couple of weeks ago in Oak Hill. So obviously it’s not the result I wanted today, but I feel like there were some more positives than a couple of weeks ago.
Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, who was two off the lead heading into the final round, withdrew shortly before his starting time after suffering back spasms.
“We were doing some reflex stuff, trying to bend down and trying to pick something up fast and low,” Morikawa explained.
“I’ve hurt my back briefly before, but nothing has been that bad. I think it’s the first tournament I’ve withdrawn from in my entire life. It sucks because this is a tournament that I love.
“I played well and put myself in contention. But I have to take care of myself and I have to be smart.”