Chris Riley sets the pace at first round of Memorial Tournament by firing a 66 alongside Rory McIlroy
Chris Riley smashed a score of 6-under par 66 to set the pace at the par-72 Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio where the $6.2-million Memorial Tournament is taking place. He was joined by 22-year-old Rory McIlroy.
Riley, who is a 37-year-old pro from San Diego, teed off from the back and reeled eight birdies against two bogeys. His first accomplishment arrived at the par-5 11th hole, when he fired a tee shot that plunged 320 yards
to find the fairway. The ball landed just across the creek that ran diagonally across the fairway and made a perfect location for the second shot. The player walked towards the landing site and smashed a perfect shot towards the protected green to take an
aim for a birdie.
The perfection in the shot assessment laid foundation for Riley’s accurate game, which ultimately led him to the top of the leader board.
The only two flaws incurred on the par-3 12th and par-4 18th, which Riley soon recovered from with bunch of birdies on his way to the clubhouse. The first bogey was carded by the American, when he missed the
tee shot towards the kidney-shaped green, which was protected by two sand bunkers on each side and had a creek running in front. The player made a good recovery shot from the bunker, but could not save par and settled for the first bogey of the tournament.
Being able to counter off the initial loss, Riley birdied four more holes towards the end and wrapped the back nine with a score of 3-under par 33.
Riley who has been out of competitive golf since 2002 was extremely pleased with his game. He spoke to the press in a greenside interview and said, “It was very unexpected. I really putted good. I made a lot of nice par saves.
I made one on 6, my 15th hole, for like 20 feet for par, and just - 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. To be able to come back here is a pretty big deal,” the player concluded.
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