For your post first-round consumption, these Memorial musings:
Jason Dufner has had a tough year. One top 10 finish, wife dumped him, collected $2.5 million in the divorce, so you get the picture. “The Duf” resurfaced at the Memorial Thursday and was all set to share the first-round lead with Bo Van Pelt and Hideki Matsuyama until he splashed his tee shot at the 18th hole into Jack’s little creek that runs down the left side of the hole.
A double-bogey six later, Duf finished with 66 but he’s still there just two off the lead and totally in need of three more good rounds to set him back on his proper golf path.
How does the Masters champion quietly shoot 68? Well, that’s exactly what Jordan Spieth did. Nice opening round and no one’s paying any attention to the kid.
Speaking of Van Pelt, like Dufner, he’s had a pretty miserable year, recording only one 10 top finish. This was the first time in his career he had 10 birdies in a round. “This is my favorite tournament,” he said afterwards. Guess so.
Matsuyama’s 64 was the lowest opening round by a defending champion since 1978 when the host, Jack Nicklaus, shot 67.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are still given superstar status on the tour. But after Mickelson shot even par and is tied for 69th and Woods chopped it up for a 73 and is tied for 84th, you have to ask yourself if these guys are simply field players these days?
A total of 68 players shot under par for the first round.
Another former Memorial champion, Justin Rose, was in with Spieth at 68.
