William McGirt had to wait until his 165th start to win on the PGA Tour, and even then he had to go a little extra.
The 36-year-old McGirt sank a six-foot par putt on the second playoff hole to turn back Jon Curran and capture the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, taking the trophy from tournament host Jack Nicklaus.
“It’s unbelievable,” said McGirt, whose only other pro victory came in the 2007 Cabarrus Classic on the Tar Heel Tour and had finished second three times on the big tour. “It was a struggle all day. I really fought my golf swing. But I made a lot of really good par putts. My speed was really good all day. That’s what saved me.
“I’ve been in this position several times before. As I said yesterday, I hope I finally learn something from it. And I think I did.”
McGirt made 17 pars and only one birdie in his 1-under-par 71 and needed a clutch two-putt par from 65 feet, making a four-footer to get into the playoff.
Curran, 29, who also was looking for his first PGA Tour victory, closed with a 70, including a seven-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and a 17-foot par putt on the final hole of regulation.
However, on the second extra hole, he flew the green with his approach shot and missed a 40-foot par putt before McGirt rolled in the winner.
Dustin Johnson made a five-foot birdie putt on the last hole but his 71 left him one stroke back in solo third, while third-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland had three late birdies in a 68 and was two shots behind in a tie for fourth with J.B. Holmes, who carded a 69, Matt Kuchar, who stumbled to a 73, and Gary Woodland, who also had a 73.
Kooch, the 2013 Memorial champion, held the lead until playing four holes on the back nine in 4-over, including a double-bogey 6 on the 13th hole.
Patrick Reed carded a 68 and was another shot down in a tie for eighth with Keegan Bradley, who totaled 69, and Kevin Streelman, who came in at 72.
Phil Mickelson shot 72 and tied for 20th, top-ranked Jason Day of Australia struggled to a 74 and tied for 27th and second-ranked Jordan Spieth managed only a 73 to tie for 57th.
