Continuing their impressive form in men’s golf, world number one Scottie Scheffler – boasting four victories from his past seven appearances – and the latest US PGA champion Xander Schauffele, quickly moved to the focal point of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio. Scheffler initiated with a score of 67, Schauffele following closely with a 68. Canadian Adam Hadwin swept in with a 66, taking the temporary clubhouse lead, but the prominence of the two top players soon guided the dynamic of the $20 million key event, which has a restricted field and no cut.
“It’s pleasing to see familiar names on the leaderboard and I relish the competition — it’s shaping to be a stirring tournament indeed,” said the reserved Scheffler. He preferred to wait, considering the competition was only a quarter complete.
Scheffler’s run in his last seven tour games – 2-8-1-1-2-1-1 – bears a similar aura of anticipation that was often linked with Tiger Woods. He has consistently delivered high-quality play, and an opening round of six birdies, and a single bogey, allowed the Texan to reposition himself at the forefront. Due to inclement weather softening fairways, players were forced to contend with disadvantageous ground conditions, with no clean and place in effect.
Schauffele also maintained his recent high standard. Following his first experience since clinching his first Major at Valhalla, the Californian managed a clean round of 68: “I’m satisfied with my game. I stayed focused and my short game saved me from what could have been a disastrous day,” he confessed.
“It’s just the beginning with plenty of golf still to be played. I’m aware that I need to improve some aspects of my long game. Given the difficulty of this course, and the forecasted high winds tomorrow, I know I have areas to refine,” he added.
Ludvig Aberg from Sweden, playing alongside Scheffler, managed to make his way into contention in the game, scoring a 68. Despite playing alongside the globally dominant world number one, Aberg wasn’t in any way thrown off.
“I focus on my own game and don’t aim to mimic someone else,” explicated Aberg. He continued by articulating his pleasure in seeing impressive golf shots and trying to keep pace. He expressed his satisfaction with his performance that day and his ambition to continue hitting great shots to keep him within striking distance come Sunday. A year after turning professional, Aberg has found himself at world number six.
Meanwhile, Shane Lowry seemed to possess command over his game in the initial nine, marking a one-under-par 35. However, he fell prey to mud balls on the back nine and accumulated bogeys on the 12th, 14th, and 17th holes. The frustrated golfer signed off an opening 74, two-over-par after finishing his game at the 18th.
At the Helsingborg’s Volvo Scandinavian Mixed tournament, a combined competition on the DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour, the local lad, Sebastian Soderberg managed to snatch the lead in the first round with a fantastic nine-under-par 63. However, the young Irish golfer from Co Kildare, Lauren Walsh, in her debut season on the LET, managed to keep herself in the mix with her powerful start to her pro career, tying for fifth position with an opening round of 67.