McIlroy, Riley share Memorial lead
Source: Agencies |
June 4, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
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BRITAIN'S Rory McIlroy birdied three of his last four holes at one of his favorite venues to surge into a share of the lead in Thursday's opening round at the Memorial tournament.
The mop-haired Northern Irishman fired a sparkling six-under-par 66 in ideal scoring conditions at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, to end the day level with American journeyman Chris Riley.
Chris DiMarco and Josh Teater each opened with 67s on a 'Stars and Stripes' leaderboard where McIlroy was the only non-American among the top-21 players.
"I'm really happy with the way I played today," McIlroy, 22, told reporters after a sizzling birdie-birdie-birdie-par finish to his round in glorious late afternoon sunshine.
"I got it up and down a few times when I really needed to, to keep myself at a couple under, and then was able to birdie a few holes coming in. That was really the difference.
"I feel comfortable, I'm swinging well, I'm hitting it good and I'm holing a few putts."
McIlroy, who tied for 10th last year on his Memorial debut, loved the undulating, heavily wooded layout the first time he played it.
"This is one of my favorite weeks of the year, one of my favorite golf courses," the world No. 6 six said.
While the sight of McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard came as no surprise to anyone, the presence of Riley raised a few eyebrows.
The 37-year-old American had missed the cut in his three previous starts at Muirfield Village, never once breaking par.
"I really putted good," Riley said after totalling only 25 putts. "I made a lot of nice par saves.
"I made one on six, my 15th hole, from like 20 feet for par and on the first hole I made about a 15-footer for par. It was just one of those days where everything was going in the hole, and it felt pretty good to see that."
British world No. 1 Luke Donald recovered from an opening nine of two-over 38 to card a six-birdie 70 while fourth-ranked American Phil Mickelson returned a 72.
The mop-haired Northern Irishman fired a sparkling six-under-par 66 in ideal scoring conditions at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, to end the day level with American journeyman Chris Riley.
Chris DiMarco and Josh Teater each opened with 67s on a 'Stars and Stripes' leaderboard where McIlroy was the only non-American among the top-21 players.
"I'm really happy with the way I played today," McIlroy, 22, told reporters after a sizzling birdie-birdie-birdie-par finish to his round in glorious late afternoon sunshine.
"I got it up and down a few times when I really needed to, to keep myself at a couple under, and then was able to birdie a few holes coming in. That was really the difference.
"I feel comfortable, I'm swinging well, I'm hitting it good and I'm holing a few putts."
McIlroy, who tied for 10th last year on his Memorial debut, loved the undulating, heavily wooded layout the first time he played it.
"This is one of my favorite weeks of the year, one of my favorite golf courses," the world No. 6 six said.
While the sight of McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard came as no surprise to anyone, the presence of Riley raised a few eyebrows.
The 37-year-old American had missed the cut in his three previous starts at Muirfield Village, never once breaking par.
"I really putted good," Riley said after totalling only 25 putts. "I made a lot of nice par saves.
"I made one on six, my 15th hole, from like 20 feet for par and on the first hole I made about a 15-footer for par. It was just one of those days where everything was going in the hole, and it felt pretty good to see that."
British world No. 1 Luke Donald recovered from an opening nine of two-over 38 to card a six-birdie 70 while fourth-ranked American Phil Mickelson returned a 72.
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