DUBLIN, Ohio– Tony Finau figured he was on the ideal track when he shot 59 at Victory Ranch last week in Utah.
That type of rating isnt happening at Muirfield Village, where the greens are getting firmer by the hour. Finau still took enough confidence from playing with his kids in the house during a week off, and it translated into 14 birdies over 2 days and a share of the 36-hole lead at the Memorial.
Finau recovered from two bogeys after 3 holes of his second round Friday, making birdie on the rest of the par fives and finishing with a wedge to 2 feet for birdie and a 3-under 69.
That put him at 9-under 135 with Ryan Palmer (68 ), who had just one bogey over 2 rounds. The way Muirfield Village is playing, both are excellent.
He handled 2 birdies and a 7-foot par save on his last 3 holes for a 76 that allowed him to make the cut on the number at 3-over 147, matching his greatest 36-hole score at the Memorial.
Finau chose to stay home last week instead of playing Muirfield Village twice in a row. He was 14-under par through 16 holes till making a bogey on the 17th hole and settling for his 2nd sub-60 round away from the PGA Tour.
I think I certainly carried some of that right into this week, and that confidence I think is quite cool.”
The course is replacing all the greens after this week, so officials are letting them go.
” I do not know what it was,” he said. “It was a few birdies and an eagle thrown in there and a few mistakes. Theres some excellent in there, some mediocre and there was some pretty poor shots. But I battled back well.”
Palmer played the Workday Charity Open last week at Muirfield Village and missed out on the cut. Instead of staying in Ohio, he went house to Texas to deal with swing coach Randy Smith, and he discovered a repair to whatever was holding him back.
“One little, small defect in my back swing,” Palmer stated.
He likewise did some work on the greens with Steve Stricker, and Palmer feels good enough about his opportunities on the weekend.
Stricker didnt do too severely, either. The 53-year-old Ryder Cup captain had a 67 and was at 4-under 140, together with Jim Furyk, who turned 50 2 months back and shot 68.
They were a shot in front of Jon Rahm (67 ), who has another chance to reach No. 1 on the planet today for the very first time in his career. U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland had a 70 and was two behind.
For Tiger Woods, it was a matter of making it to the weekend. Woods said his back felt stiff while heating up, and missing a pair of 3-footers didnt make him feel any better. He handled 2 birdies and a 7-foot par conserve on his final 3 holes for a 76 that enabled him to make the cut on the number at 3-over 147, matching his highest 36-hole score at the Memorial.
” Not excellent,” Woods said. “I three-putted 2 holes early, and whatever type of momentum I was going to produce, I suppressed that early and fought it the remainder of the day.”
Finau chose to remain home last week instead of playing Muirfield Village twice in a row. He wont compare Victory Ranch with Muirfield Village, though it influenced him. He was 14-under par through 16 holes until making a bogey on the 17th hole and choosing his 2nd sub-60 round away from the PGA Tour.
” I dont understand the number of times Ive been 14 under through 16 holes on a great golf course,” Finau stated. “But it told me I was in great type and just told me how good I am at scoring. I think I definitely carried some of that right into this week, and that self-confidence I think is quite cool.”
The cut of 147 matched the highest of the season– it likewise was 147 at Bay Hill. Amongst those going house was Bryson DeChambeau, who was in sensible shape until striking his tee shot into a threat on the 15th, taking a penalty drop, hitting the next 2 out of bounds and making 10.
It was his highest rating on a hole in his career DeChambeau entered into the Memorial having completed in the leading 10 in 7 straight competitions, and having 19 consecutive rounds at par or better. He entrusted rounds of 73-76, and without comment.
Dustin Johnson shot 80-80 for the highest 36-hole rating of his PGA Tour profession.
Collin Morikawa, who won at Muirfield Village last week in a playoff over Justin Thomas, recuperated from a 76 with a 70 to make the cut with one shot to spare. Thomas had a 67 and was 6 shots behind.
The method Muirfield Village began to look Friday, the weekend at the Memorial may be more about hanging on than going low. The course is changing all the greens after this week, so authorities are letting them go. It doesnt matter if theyre so fast the turf passes away due to the fact that theyre being ripped up, anyway.
Brooks Koepka appeared to hit a strong bunker shot from right of the 16th green until it presented a few feet past the hole, and then a few more feet until it was off the green and resting against the collar of rough. That wasnt his biggest issue. Koepka dumped a shot in the water on his last hole at No. 9 and made double bogey for a 75.
That put him at 3-over 147, like Woods.
Rory McIlroy shot 72, which goes in the books as a round of even par. He hit wedge to 10 feet for a pair of birdies. He chunked a wedge into a bunker and made bogey.
He was at 2-under 142.
