Pettersson captures Memorial

DUBLIN, Ohio – Sunday at the Memorial felt like a series of bonuses to Carl Pettersson.

First came a scary, downhill chip from 25 feet out of the rough on the par-5 11th hole that had bogey written all over it until Pettersson knocked it in for birdie to restore his three-shot lead. The victory was sweet because tournament host Jack Nicklaus was waiting to shake his hand when he walked off the 18th green.

And when it was over, Pettersson was awarded a day off today instead of grinding through U.S. Open qualifying.

“I wasn’t thinking about that at all,” Pettersson said after closing with a 1-under 71 for a two-shot victory over Brett Wetterich and Zach Johnson. “I was just trying to get the job done on the back nine. To win it is just phenomenal.”

The 28-year-old Swede earned a small measure of redemption.

Pettersson was No. 51 in the world ranking, missing by one-hundredth of a point getting into the top 50 and earning an exemption into the U.S. Open. He had planned to go through a 36-hole qualifier the day after the Memorial, but his second victory over the last 12 months was enough to get him to Winged Foot.

Pettersson finished at 12-under 276 and earned $1.035 million. He hit only one fairway bunker the whole week, crucial at a tournament that experimented with gap-tooth rakes that left furrows in the sand.

Johnson (70) and Wetterich (67) tied for second and picked up valuable Ryder Cup points, moving them to sixth and seventh, respectively, in the U.S. standings.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson took himself out of the hunt with bogeys on his first two holes.

The victory allowed Pettersson to head home Sunday night to see his family instead of sweating out 36 holes to try to qualify for the U.S. Open. Best of all, he got an audience with Nicklaus.

“This is a dream come true to even play in this tournament,” Pettersson said.