Lingmerth lifts trophy in front of Jack
DUBLIN, Ohio: Swede David Lingmerth, ranked 212th in the world, took down Justin Rose in a playoff to claim the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village on Sunday.
Lingmerth won for the first time on the PGA Tour after a par on the third sudden death hole was enough to beat 2013 U.S. Open champion and world number six Rose, with 18-times major champion and tournament host Jack Nicklaus looking on.
For Lingmerth, the victory will live long in the memory.
“This is my third year on the PGA Tour, and it's one thing to be a PGA Tour player, but it's a whole other thing to be a winner out here,” he said.
“Just to be on that list of PGA Tour winners is a special feeling and something that no one can take away from me.
“And this tournament, with Mr. Nicklaus as host, I can't think of many other tournaments that would be put above this one so I'm pretty thrilled.”
Playing in the event instead of his home country's flagship event, the Swedish Masters, the 27-year-old shot a final round three-under 69 to finish at 15under 273.
While the victory gives Lingmerth a three-year US tour exemption and entry to the PGA Championship and next year's Masters, he still faces a 36-hole qualifier for the US Open on Monday.
The qualifier in Columbus for a place at the June 18-21 US Open at Chambers Bay is one of the main reasons he chose to play the event.
“It is a little heartbreaking not to get to play in Sweden but sometimes you have to make those decisions,” he said.
“And this year I'm definitely happy I made this one.”.
World number two and Masters champion Jordan Spieth shot a 65 to post the early clubhouse lead but eventually tied for third with Italian Francesco Molinari (71) at 13-under. – Reuters