Hideki Matsuyama is beginning to really feel wholesome, and being on the Memorial normally makes him glad. That a lot was evident Friday when the Japanese star rolled in a collection of birdie putts for a 7-under 65 and a one-shot lead.
Matsuyama, whose first PGA Tour title got here at Muirfield Village in 2014, made a 25-foot birdie on the par-5 seventh and a 30-footer on the par-3 eighth to take the lead within the morning, simply because the wind was beginning to blow.
Patrick Cantlay, a two-time winner at Muirfield Village, stayed with him many of the day and posted a 67. He was one behind, together with David Lipsky (69).
Matsuyama and Cantlay performed collectively — Billy Horschel joined them and was 12 photographs higher than his opening 84 — and placed on fairly a present of ball-striking and well timed placing.
“To make those putts at 7 and 8 were huge,” Matsuyama mentioned. “I made some good par-saving putts today. The course is playing tough, especially the greens. If the greens get even harder than they are now, it’s going to be a challenge this weekend. But today, the putts went in and so I’m satisfied.” Cantlay has made solely two bogeys in 36 holes, spectacular contemplating how exacting Muirfield Village has performed with quick fairways and heat, sunny situations.
His finest shot of the day was a 6-iron that lined the flag on the par-3 sixteenth, the hardest of the par 3s and nobody’s favourite on the course Jack Nicklaus constructed. It pitched subsequent to the opening and wound up in a troublesome lie within the tough. He needed to made a 6-footer for par.
Rory McIlroy was principally happy along with his end. He performed properly on Thursday solely to get a horrible break when his ball hung in thick grass on the slope of a bunker, resulting in a triple bogey on the 18th gap that worn out his good work and gave him a 72.
This time he completed robust for a 68 that places him within the combine going into the weekend.
McIlroy nonetheless doesn’t really feel completely comfy with this swing. Even after successful in Dubai firstly of the the yr and contending at Bay Hill, he’s attempting to get his swing again in the identical place it was. He can handle that high-quality on the vary. Put a scorecard in his hand, or a hazard in his view and it turns into completely different.
It’s a matter of belief and really feel. He assume he’s getting there.
“An empty head is not great, but then obviously a head that’s full of clutter is no good, either,” McIlroy mentioned. “So it’s trying to find that balance where you’ve got a couple of thoughts or a couple of ideas in your head, but you don’t let that overshadow what you’re really trying to do out there, which is being visual and trying to play shots and be as instinctive as possible.” Jordan Spieth had a 72 and was 4 photographs behind Matsuyama. Davis Riley, who opened with a 67 in more durable afternoon situations, adopted with a 78 within the relative calm of Friday morning.
Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler have been amongst these enjoying within the afternoon.
The course has been enjoying a lot more durable within the afternoon due to the wind and relentless solar that bakes the fairways. Cantlay had 15 pars on Thursday in a spherical of 70 and felt he performed properly. He additionally knew Friday morning can be higher for scoring and he wanted to take benefit, and he did that.
So did Matsuyama, with a efficiency so robust that he putted for birdie on all however two holes. One of these was the sixteenth, the place he saved par from a entrance bunker.
It led to the low rating of the event to date with 60 gamers nonetheless going within the afternoon. But nobody expects it to get any simpler on the weekend.
Some gamers gained’t get that likelihood. The minimize was shaping as much as be the best in 14 years (4 over). Among these sure to overlook have been Justin Thomas (75-75) and PGA contender Corey Conners (77-75).