Charl Schwartzel leads on day one of the Memorial Tournament – Golf news
Charl Schwartzel recorded two streaks of straight four birdies on Thursday, en route to a 7-under par 65 and the lead on the first day of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour, and is being staged at the Muirfield Village Golf Club, offering a total prize fund of US$ 6.2 million to the participants.
Starting on the 10th hole, the former Masters champion birdied the 11th hole, followed by a bogey on the 13th. He then picked up pace and birdied each of the next four holes that he played, which allowed him
to reach the turn in four-under.
The front nine of the course also witnessed him playing brilliant shots on the course and he added another back-to-back birdie streak starting fourth hole till the seventh.
Thereafter, he suffered a double bogey on the eighth hole and moved back to a six-under par score. Yet, it did not shatter his confidence and the South African star managed to add another shot to his scorecard
by draining a birdie putt on the ninth hole, his last.
“The birdie on the last definitely will make my evening a lot better,” said Schwartzel after finishing his round. “I felt like I played really well, just kept making‑‑ sort of ticking the ball over and got it
to 8‑under. Just had a bad one on No. 8, made a double. And that was the very worst I played all day.”
“I've been tinkering with grip, holding the putter. Obviously I haven't been putting that great since Byron Nelson or for quite a bit of time of the year. But hitting the ball good. And started off the same thing
this morning,” he added.
At the end of the day, he found himself taking a one-stroke lead over Scott Piercy. Josh Teater, Russell Henley, Kyle Stanley and Charlie Wi, in the meantime, shared the third spot, after each recording a five-under
par 67.
Tiger Woods, who currently leads the FedEx Cup standings, courtesy to his four victories this season, carded a one-under par 71, and shared the 27th position.
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