Adam Hadwin couldn’t complain too much after his round at the Memorial, despite ending on a sour note. His impressive 6-under 66 gave him a one-shot lead over Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, fueling his hope of turning things around at just the right time.
Hadwin was among the few golfers who managed to conquer the Muirfield Village course, which proved challenging despite being softened by rain. He had a spectacular run, birdieing four of the last five holes in his first round, adding to the four birdies he made on the front nine. The only blemish came when he missed a 5-foot par putt on the tough 18th hole.
Scottie Scheffler, who has been on a roll this season, opened his round with two birdies within the first four holes. Yet, his momentum was briefly stalled by a clump of mud that led to a bogey on the par-5 fifth hole. ‘Hindsight, maybe I could have aimed it down the middle of the creek and just see where it would have went and maybe it goes in one of the fairways,’ Scheffler reflected. ‘But at the time, that didn’t really seem like a good idea.’
Scheffler’s game was solid overall, ending his round with a brilliant approach shot to within a foot on the 18th, which was the hardest hole of the opening day. Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele, playing his first tournament since winning the PGA Championship, showed resilience. His round was notably scrappy from tee to green, but his short game saved him, resulting in a bogey-free 68. ‘I’m happy with how I stuck in there and really happy my short game bailed me out on a day that could have been a lot worse,’ said Schauffele.
Corey Conners, Collin Morikawa, and Ludvig Åberg matched Schauffele’s 68, with defending champion Viktor Hovland close behind at 69. It’s a crucial time for players like Hadwin and Conners, coming off the Canadian Open and with only two weeks left before the 60-man field for the Olympics is finalized. Hadwin, who hasn’t finished in the top 40 since late March, remains hopeful. ‘Over the last month I’ve probably played my way … not out of the conversation, but certainly out of a good position to be in,’ he admitted.
The day’s challenge was evident as only 25 out of 73 players managed to break par, including Rory McIlroy, who ended with a 70 thanks to four birdies in his last six holes. Schauffele had his own share of scares, especially with a mud ball situation on the fifth. ‘When the ball was in the air, I closed my eyes,’ he recalled. ‘I wouldn’t call myself religious, but I was hoping that thing was going to be OK.’ Luckily, he avoided disaster and got up-and-down for par, making an 8-foot putt in the process.
Hadwin’s strong early performance and Scheffler’s steady play have set the stage for an exciting contest at the Memorial. With big names like Schauffele and McIlroy also in the mix, the competition is wide open as the tournament progresses.
Source: Espn
