DUBLIN, Ohio — Merely being on the Memorial was a reminder of how far Cameron Youthful has come throughout the ultimate yr. Being part of a six-way tie for the lead Thursday was one different reminder of how successfully he is collaborating in.
In his first start since troublesome on the PGA Championship, Youthful accomplished with two birdies over his ultimate three holes for a 5-under 67 on rain-softened Muirfield Village.
Even with barely softer greens, the 67 was the perfect score to steer after the first spherical of the Memorial since 2004. And it was the second straight week on the PGA Tour of an infinite logjam on the prime — eight have been tied after one spherical at Colonial.
Turning into a member of Youthful have been Luke Guidelines, Cameron Smith and Okay.H. Lee from the morning wave, and Mackenzie Hughes and Davis Riley each shot 67 throughout the afternoon.
Bryson DeChambeau, in his first match given that Masters as a result of surgical process on his left hand, had a 76. Harris English made his first start given that Sony Open in January as a result of hip surgical process. He opened with a 77.
A yr previously, Youthful was coming off consecutive wins on the Korn Ferry Tour that moved him up some 300 spots on the earth score to No. 170. Now he is at No. 30, with 5 top-three finishes in his rookie season, thrice a runner-up.
The newest was at Southern Hills, when Youthful was tied for the lead heading to the 14th tee throughout the final spherical of the PGA. His prospects ended with a double bogey on the sixteenth.
After which he was correct once more at it on the Memorial, making a 15-foot eagle on the par-5 fifteenth on his method to a 31 on his opening 9 holes, overcoming a few bogeys on the doorway 9 and capping off one different steady day with a 30-foot birdie putt.
“I really feel we knew what was attainable, nevertheless I really feel I’ve moreover gotten a lot larger all by means of this season,” Youthful said. “And having achieved successfully makes it a lot less complicated. If I was really combating to take care of my card for subsequent yr, I really feel it should get a lot extra sturdy. To have been throughout the lead after which finish extreme a few events, I really feel merely that comfort diploma has gone up and I’ve been able to maintain going.”
The greens have been company all through observe and nonetheless rolled successfully, though avid gamers would possibly take function at flags as a result of enough rain and cloud cowl. That took some adjusting. Muirfield Village was nonetheless sturdy enough that bogeys have been easy to go looking out.
Guidelines, who picked up his first win at Torrey Pines in January, had only one bogey in his 67. Smith was slowed by a few bogeys on the doorway 9 after making the flip. Lee holed out from fairway on No. 9 for eagle, solely to watch with back-to-back bogeys.
Will Zalatoris, who misplaced throughout the PGA Championship playoff to Justin Thomas, had eight birdies in his spherical of 68 and wasn’t sure what to make of his spherical.
“I did not assume 68 with eight birdies was throughout the enjoying playing cards after I received right here out Monday, Tuesday,” Zalatoris said.
He found the excellence quickly, a wedge on the thirteenth hole that landed near the flag and spun once more 15 toes. Earlier throughout the week, he seen photos like that sure over the inexperienced into problem.
What helped in any conditions was his inserting. Zalatoris and 11 consecutive one-putt greens, a kind of for bogey, until the streak ended when he missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-3 fourth.
Defending champion Patrick Cantlay didn’t uncover virtually as many birdies as everyone else from the morning wave, merely two birdies in the direction of two bogeys for an even-par 72. Collin Morikawa, who misplaced to Cantlay throughout the playoff on the Memorial ultimate yr, had two birdies for a 71.
Jon Rahm, who had a 6-shot lead after 54 holes ultimate yr until having to withdraw as a result of a optimistic COVID-19 test, hit two balls throughout the water on the once more 9 and shot 72.
Youthful recollects meeting Jack Nicklaus, the match host, at Pebble Seaside in 2019 for the U.S. Open when he licensed for his first essential as an newbie. It was explicit for at least one in every of them.
“I’m sure he wouldn’t have in mind,” Youthful said. “He was strolling at me and I said, ‘Hey, I’m Cameron.’ And he was excellent. Acknowledged howdy and kind of moved on. Nevertheless I was no individual. I merely obtained out of school. So that’s really the one time I’ve been able to work along with him.”
Nicklaus is always by the 18th inexperienced Sunday to shake arms with the winner. Which may be memorable.
