Adam Hadwin rebounded from missing the cut at last week’s Canadian Open to take a one-shot lead in the first round of the PGA Memorial Tournament in Ohio on Thursday.
The 36-year-old from Saskatchewan, who was disappointed after failing to advance at Canada’s premier tournament, recovered by shooting a six-under-par 66 at Muirfield Village.
“It sucks to miss cuts, but missing a cut in Canada is definitely up there with some of the worst,” Hadwin said, reflecting on his previous week’s performance. He shook off the disappointment by making eight birdies, though a bogey on the 18th prevented him from finishing with a two-shot lead.
“It’s only Thursday, a lot of golf left. I played a really solid round of golf today. I was in play off the tee, I hit a bunch of greens, I had some good looks, and then got going on the back nine,” Hadwin said, focusing on the remaining rounds.
World number one Scottie Scheffler trails Hadwin by one shot after carding a five-under-par 67. Scheffler, who made the turn at one-under, surged into contention with four birdies on the back nine. His round’s highlight was an impressive iron shot to 18 inches on the 18th hole, setting up a birdie.
“It felt like I hit a lot of quality shots today, it felt like my ball striking was really good, and I was able to hole a few putts as well,” Scheffler remarked, satisfied with his performance.
Four players are tied for third after shooting four-under 68s: PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, and Canada’s Corey Conners. Schauffele, pleased with his bogey-free round, acknowledged the challenge ahead with stronger winds expected on Friday.
“I’m in a good spot. You just want to be in touch,” Schauffele said. “This course is really hard, and the wind is supposed to blow really hard tomorrow, even more than today, so I know I need to clean it up.”
Defending champion Viktor Hovland and European Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood are among five players three shots off the lead at three under.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is part of a group of seven players tied for 12th at two under. McIlroy’s round was a rollercoaster, featuring a bogey and double-bogey on the 11th and 12th holes, followed by four birdies in his final six holes to stay in contention
