Scottie Scheffler fends off Collin Morikawa at the Memorial in Sunday battle of major champions

Collin Morikawa mounted a charge, but Scottie Scheffler prevailed at the Memorial Sunday in a final-pairing battle of major champions a week ahead of the U.S. Open.

Scheffler posted a final round 2-over to finish at 8-under for the tournament. Morikawa stood within a stroke on the 18th green, but settled for a second-place finish at 7-under after gaining three strokes on Scheffler in the final round. The win is Scheffler’s fifth in seven tournaments, a sizzling run that includes victories at The Players Championship and the Masters.

Morikawa’s charge falls short

Scheffler entered Sunday with a four-stroke lead over Morikawa, Sepp Straka and Adam Hadwin. A two-time major winner, he played Sunday’s final round alongside fellow two-time major champion Morikawa.

By the turn, Morikawa had whittled Scheffler’s lead in half with a 1-under effort on the front nine. Scheffler countered with two bogeys and a birdie to enter the back nine at 9-under, two strokes ahead of Morikawa. Morikawa then birded 12 to cut Scheffler’s lead to one and remained a stroke back through 15.

Big swing on 16

But Scheffler extended his lead on the 16th green after Morikawa appeared to have a chance for a tie at the top of the scoreboard after Scheffler left himself with a long par putt. But Morikawa missed the green on the par three, then left himself with his own long putt after leaving his chip short. He missed the putt to drop back to 7-under.

Scheffler then sunk his putt to secure par and a two-stroke lead at 9-under.

Scheffler opened the door for Morikawa on the 17th green. He recorded his only blemish of the back nine with a missed par putt to drop back to 8-under. Morikawa recorded a par to enter the final hole a stroke behind.

Both ended up in the greenside rough on 18 after shooting long on their approach shots. Morikawa chipped close to the flag to put pressure on Scheffler. But Scheffler left himself with a makable par putt that he sunk to secure victory.

The win is the first of Scheffler’s career at the Memorial. He’s now posted a second-place finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge and Sunday’s victory since a T8 at the PGA Championship that drew more attention for his early-morning arrest ahead of Round 2 than his play on the course.

Up next, Scheffler will look to extend his hot streak at next week’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst, where he’ll seek to secure his third career major championship.