Associated Press
Thursday, May 25
DUBLIN, Ohio -- Greg Norman hasn't played in a tournament in five weeks but has been plenty busy. "I'm very fresh. I haven't played much golf," he said after shooting a 2-under 70 that left him tied for fourth place, four shots behind leader Harrison Frazar at the Memorial. "I've been around the world in about eight days. I didn't take my clubs overseas. I had other business."
Norman said he traveled from his home in Hobe Sound, Fla., and made stops in New York, Dubai, the Middle East, Australia and Honolulu.
Blame the ball
Tiger Woods will have one less Nike ball to test. In Thursday's opening round of the Memorial, Woods three-putted for bogey at the par-5 fifth hole, then tossed the ball into the creek that snakes in front of the green. Woods, who is testing a Nike ball for the second straight week after playing a Titleist for years, hit a long drive and then used an iron to the green on the 527-yard hole. His long approach went pin high, but missed the green to the right. He chipped on, then three-putted for the bogey. "I played smart," Woods said. "I just hit a terrible first putt and a good second putt. To walk away with a 6 with an iron in your hand (on the second shot) is a little disappointing." Running gag
Gabriel Hjerstedt is tied for fourth place after the opening round. He shot a 2-under 70 while wearing what appeared to be running shoes with spikes in the bottom. He said the shoes -- vastly different than the typical leather models other pros wear -- have helped him overcome an injury. "I had a groin problem earlier in the year. These have actually helped me walk," he said. "That's what I was having trouble with, walking around the course." If he continues to play well, he said there's always the possibility the style could catch on -- but only if he wins something big. "They are comfortable," the Swede said. "If they can just get me a black pair, I'll be OK. But I think I have to win a major." Family affair
While the Nicklauses, father Jack and son Gary, shot rounds of 75 and 72, respectively, the brothers Sutherland didn't fare nearly so well. David Sutherland, 34, matched former Memorial winner Roger Maltbie for the high score of the opening round with an 84. Big brother Kevin Sutherland, 35, shot a 76. David shot a 44 on the back nine -- the high score of the day -- and encountered more than his share of trials and tribulations. From a lie in heavy rough right of the 10th fairway, he barely advanced the ball 10 feet and ended up with a double-bogey. He proceeded to find bunkers on six of the final eight holes. Amateur hour
Tom Scherrer has played the Muirfield Village layout more than any other course on tour. It shows. Scherrer, a non-winner in his fourth full year on tour, shot a 3-under 69 to tie Kenny Perry for second. In addition to making his second appearance in the Memorial, he has also played the course in a college tournament and in the 1992 U.S. Junior Amateur. But he hasn't always mastered the layout. In that Junior Amateur, he shot 86-86 and missed the cut. Divots
Sunny weather with temperatures in the mid-70s greeted golfers for the first round. It marked the fifth Memorial round in a row without a suspension of play. Six of the previous eight had been suspended, canceled or delayed because of inclement weather.
Frazar and Glen Day were the only players in the 105-player field to birdie all four par-5s.
Only 18 players broke par in the opening round, the lowest at the Memorial Tournament since the 16 subpar scores in 1990.
Thursday, May 25
DUBLIN, Ohio -- Greg Norman hasn't played in a tournament in five weeks but has been plenty busy. "I'm very fresh. I haven't played much golf," he said after shooting a 2-under 70 that left him tied for fourth place, four shots behind leader Harrison Frazar at the Memorial. "I've been around the world in about eight days. I didn't take my clubs overseas. I had other business."
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| Tiger Woods had an uneventful round, with two birdies and one bogey. |
Tiger Woods will have one less Nike ball to test. In Thursday's opening round of the Memorial, Woods three-putted for bogey at the par-5 fifth hole, then tossed the ball into the creek that snakes in front of the green. Woods, who is testing a Nike ball for the second straight week after playing a Titleist for years, hit a long drive and then used an iron to the green on the 527-yard hole. His long approach went pin high, but missed the green to the right. He chipped on, then three-putted for the bogey. "I played smart," Woods said. "I just hit a terrible first putt and a good second putt. To walk away with a 6 with an iron in your hand (on the second shot) is a little disappointing." Running gag
Gabriel Hjerstedt is tied for fourth place after the opening round. He shot a 2-under 70 while wearing what appeared to be running shoes with spikes in the bottom. He said the shoes -- vastly different than the typical leather models other pros wear -- have helped him overcome an injury. "I had a groin problem earlier in the year. These have actually helped me walk," he said. "That's what I was having trouble with, walking around the course." If he continues to play well, he said there's always the possibility the style could catch on -- but only if he wins something big. "They are comfortable," the Swede said. "If they can just get me a black pair, I'll be OK. But I think I have to win a major." Family affair
While the Nicklauses, father Jack and son Gary, shot rounds of 75 and 72, respectively, the brothers Sutherland didn't fare nearly so well. David Sutherland, 34, matched former Memorial winner Roger Maltbie for the high score of the opening round with an 84. Big brother Kevin Sutherland, 35, shot a 76. David shot a 44 on the back nine -- the high score of the day -- and encountered more than his share of trials and tribulations. From a lie in heavy rough right of the 10th fairway, he barely advanced the ball 10 feet and ended up with a double-bogey. He proceeded to find bunkers on six of the final eight holes. Amateur hour
Tom Scherrer has played the Muirfield Village layout more than any other course on tour. It shows. Scherrer, a non-winner in his fourth full year on tour, shot a 3-under 69 to tie Kenny Perry for second. In addition to making his second appearance in the Memorial, he has also played the course in a college tournament and in the 1992 U.S. Junior Amateur. But he hasn't always mastered the layout. In that Junior Amateur, he shot 86-86 and missed the cut. Divots
