Rory McIlroy wants it known that the Memorial is not anyone’s opening act, The tournament and its leading man – Jack Nicklaus – deserve to receive top billing as the main event.
“This is more than a tune-up for the U.S. Open,” McIlroy said Saturday at Muirfield Village Golf Club. “This is a huge tournament, with the host being arguably the greatest player ever to play the game, so it needs to stand on its own a little bit.”
McIlroy was responding to the date change of the Memorial, which the PGA Tour moved a week later on the schedule – directly before the U.S. Open – to “bunch” signature tournaments, of which the Memorial is one of eight. The signature Travelers follows the U.S. Open.
“This stretch of golf where it goes signature event, major championship, signature event, that needs to maybe change, because this tournament should stand alone,” he said.
Nicklaus would prefer the tournament he founded and hosts return to its traditional spot two weeks before the U.S. Open, which coincides with Memorial Day week. He said Tuesday he seldom played tournaments the week before a major championship, so how can he expect today’s best players to enter the Memorial?
McIlroy, who likes playing the week before majors, said the Memorial field will be strong regardless of whether it is a week or two weeks before the U.S. Open.
“Going back like 10 years, my two favorite weeks of the year were Akron and the PGA,” he said. “Akron always felt like a tune-up before the final major of the year, and I always liked those two events back-to-back.”
But the Memorial should never preview coming attractions, he said.
Lowry eagles two par-4s
It’s one thing for a pro golfer to have two eagles in a round. But the majority of them on par-5s from on or near the green. Shane Lowry had two eagles on Saturday, and both were on par-4s.
Lowry eagled the No. 1 hole with a 195-yard approach from the left intermediate rough.
His second eagle came on the short par-4 14th hole when he drained his second shot from 119 yards.
Lowry also had four birdies, but a double-bogey on No. 8 and two bogeys prevented him from shooting better than a 68.
Defending champ Hovland falters
Viktor Hovland’s chance to become the first repeat Memorial champion since Tiger Woods in 2001 ended with a disastrous stretch on the back nine Saturday.
Hovland’s round started well. He birdied the No. 5 and 7 holes to get to 8-under par, firmly in contention behind Scottie Scheffler.
It went south from there. He bogeyed No. 8 when he missed a 5-foot par putt. The collapse really commenced on the back nine with four straight bogeys. He bogeyed the 11th hole when he hit his approach into the water, and the par-3 12th when he missed a 14½-foot putt.
He missed a 9-foot par putt on No. 13 and hit a bad third shot from sand on No. 14.
Hovland rebounded with a birdie on the par-5 15th, but took a double-bogey on the par-3 16th when his tee shot found water.
Jason Day’s iron play propels him to 69
Though Westerville resident Jason Day is a Muirfield Village member, it’s been a while since he had a competitive round there as good as his 69 on Saturday.
Day had broken 70 only twice in his previous 14 rounds in the Memorial.
He had birdies on four straight birdies in the middle of his front nine. He bogeyed No. 10 but birdied on No. 15. He is 1-over for the tournament.
“My iron play was much better today,” Day said. “I just gave myself more opportunities. The frustrating part for me has been that my irons haven’t been where they should be, and when you’re not giving yourself the opportunities, it’s very difficult to shoot a low score. Today was a good step in the right direction.”